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MISS  NADAGE  DOREE. 


GELTA; 


OR, 


THE   CZAR    AND    THE   SONGSTRESS. 


A  NOVEL. 

1  ->    •     •>     ->      •  I)       ) 


BY 

NADAGE    DOREE. 


THIRD  AND  REVISED  EDITION. 


NEELY   COMPANY, 
NEW  YORK.        CHICAGO.        LONDON. 


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Copyright,  isSf,*  * 

BY 

NADAGE    DOREE, 
All  Rights  Reserved. 


fijj-j  fcyc.A.&fJ 


TO 

MY   DARLING    MOTHER  (Seligj: 

whose  unselfish,  pure  and  high  ideal  of  life,  ha? 
been  the  beacon  light  which  has  safely  guided  mt 
past  the  innumerable  temptations,  which  beset  a 
young  girl  in  her  lonely  battle  with   the  world. 

In  reverent  memory,   this  humble  effort 

Us  BeMcateb, 

by  the  Author. 


MilMSO 


GELTA, 

OR, 

The  Czar  and  the  Cantatrice, 


CHAPTEE  L 

It  was  a  cold,  rainy  day  towards  the  end  of 
January,  and  Gelta  Dechon  was  loitering  through 
the  spacious  rooms  of  the  British  Museum  with 
that  listlessness,  with  which  one  is  apt  to  saunter 
about  a  museum  on  a  dull,  rainy  day.  She  some- 
times lolled  over  the  glass  cases  of  coins,  some- 
times admiring  an  Etruscan  vase,  sometimes 
studying  the  sarcophagus  of  an  Egyptian  mummy, 
and  sometimes  trying  to  comprehend  the  allegor- 
ical paintings  on  the  lofty  ceilings. 

Whilst  she  was  gazing  about  in  this  idle  way 
her  attention  was  attracted  to  a  distant  door  at 
the  end  of  the  room,  which,  though  she  had  many 
times  visited  the  room  before,  she  had  never  ob- 
served. The  door  was  closed, but  every  now  and  then 
would  open  and  some  solitary  being  would  stepl 
forth,  when  instantly  it  would  close  again.  There 
was  an  air  of  mystery  about  this  that  piqued  her 
languid  curiosity,  and  she  determined  to  attempt 


8  3ELTA :     OR, 

•the  passage  of  thai;  strait,  and  to  explore  the 
unknown  regions  beyond.  She  tried  to  open  the 
door  but  found  it  locked;  she  knocked,  but  no 
response.  Then  a  monotonous  voice  reached  her, 
saying,    "  The  bell  to  the  right,  Madam!" 

She  turned  towards  the  Egyptian  mummies, 
whence  the  sound  seemed  to  come,  thinking,  "  Can 
this  be  a  remnant  of  Cleopatra's  voice?  "  Then  for 
the  first  time  that  afternoon  she  perceived  the 
attendant  who  was  drowsily  sitting  between  two  cof- 
fined mummies;  and  who  was  now  with  half-awaken- 
ed gestures  trying  to  indicate  the  bell  to  the  right. 

Gelta  saw  it  and  thanked  him.  Upon  pulling 
the  bell  the  door  yielded  to  her  hand  with  that 
facility  with  which  the  portals  of  enchanted  castles 
yield  to  the  adventurous  knight  errant. 

She  found  herself  in  a  narrow,  short  passage, 
and  was  confronted  by  an  attendant  who,  indicat- 
ing a  register  to  the  left  which  was  on  a  high  desk, 
said,     "  Please  sign  your  full  name  and  address." 

After  conforming  with  the  rule,  she  entered  the 
only  apartment  leading  from  the  passage.  She 
found  herself  in  a  small,  square  room  whose  walls 
were  surrounded  with  glass  cases.  About  the 
room  were  placed  long  stands,  which  also  upheld 
glass  cases  containing  precious  gems  and  some 
of  the  finest  cut  cameos.  A  hushed  stillness 
reigned  through  this  apartment,  excepting,  as  the 
guard  at  the  entrance,    after  having  thoroughly 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRICE.  9 

scrutinized  the  new-comer,  shifted  his  position  of 
drowsy  watchfulness.  While  she  was  standing 
before  the  famous  Portland  Vase,  drinking  in  its 
beauties,  her  attention  was,  for  one  brief  moment, 
attracted  to  a  person  who  had  just  entered  the 
room,  and  who  seemed  to  be  gazing  at  her.  He 
was  about  twenty-four  years  of  age,  medium 
height,  and  had  a  style  of  countenance  between 
the  Roman  and  the  Greek — a  head  that  would  have 
pleased  a  painter — his  gray-blue  eyes,  though 
cold  in  expression,  had  the  gleam  of  a  poetical 
soul.  There  was  a  dignity  in  his  whole  appear- 
ance that  indicated  a  being  of  a  different  order 
from  the  bustling  race  around  him ;  he  was  a 
scion  of  the  Imperial  Russian  family,  the  Grand 
Duke  Ivan  Demetrius. 

Gelta,  after  a  hurried  glance  at  the  new-comer 
so  as  to  assure  herself  it  was  not  an  acquaintance 
whose  attention  she  had  attracted,  continued 
deeply  interested  in  the  different  relics. 

Amid  the  gloom  and  travail  of  existence,  sud- 
denly to  behold  a  beautiful  being,  and  as  in- 
stantaneously to  feel  an  overwhelming  conviction 
that  with  that  fair  form  forever  our  destiny  must 
be  entwined ;  that  there  is  no  more  joy  but  in  her 
joy;  that  in  her  sighs  of  love,  in  her  smile  of 
fondness,  hereafter  is  all  bliss ;  to  be  willing  to 
violate  in  her  favor  every  duty  of  society  *,' this  is 
to  be  a  lover,  and  this  is  real  love  !  Yes,  it  was 
this  mighty  passion  that  now  raged  for  the  first 
time  in  the  heart  of  Demetrius,  as  pale  and  trem- 


10  gelta:  or, 

bling  he  finally  withdrew  from  the  apartment.  He 
could  not  realize,  at  the  time,  the  character  of  the 
feeling,  which  had  so  suddenly  taken  hold  of  him  ; 
he  simply  felt  that  he  had  been  for  the  first  time 
fascinated  by  a  beautiful  woman,  and  that  he 
would  endeavor  to  become  acquainted  with  her. 
He  lingered  in  the  outer  room  with  his  eyes 
rivetted  on  the  door  to  watch  this  lovely  creature's 
exit ;  he  stood  for  awhile,  and  thought  that  hours 
must  have  elapsed,  so  long  did  her  coming  seem 
to  him.  He  had  waited  about  twenty  minutes, 
when  the  door  slowly  opened,  and  Gelta  sauntered 
into  the  outer  room. 

At  first  she  did  not  perceive  him,  and  she  con- 
tinued to  admire  the  many  curios.  The  autograph 
letters  from  different  sovereigns,  the  Greek,  Coptic 
and  Latin,  papyri  charters,  and  seals ;  Burns'  love 
letters  fascinated  her.  A  little  farther  on  she  paused 
to  examine  a  warrior's  head  painted  nearly  three 
thousand  years  ago,  a  supposed  portrait  of  the  mum- 
my, upon  the  lid  of  whose  coffin  it  was.  Then  she  be- 
came aware  that  the  gentleman  she  had  seen  in  the 
treasure  room  was  standing  near  and  observing  her. 
As  she  moved  to  go,  he  politely  raised  his  hat  and  said : 

"I  beg  your  pardon,  but  have  you  any  idea 
how  they  managed  to  make  these  portraits  in  olden 
times,  for  I  see  by  its  date  that  this  one  is  nearly 
three  thousand  years  old." 

She  looked  scrutinizingly  at  him  for  a  moment 
to  see  whether   his  question  had  been  simply   a 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATBICE.  11 

pretext  to  speak  to  her,  but  he  appeared  so  earn- 
est, as  he  continued — 

"I  have  been  standing  here  for  some  time, 
puzzling  my  brain  about  it,  but  there  seems  to  be 
no  one  about  here  who  could  enlighten  a  traveler 
since  the  guard,"  indicating  the  drooping  figure 
between  the  two  coffins,  "  has  soared  away  into 
dreamland." 

Gelta  faintly  smiled  as  her  eyes  followed  his 
gesture  toward  the  unconscious  guard. 

"  Yes,"  she  replied,  "  I  believe  these  portraits 
are  considered  some  of  the  most  valuable  of 
the  museum's  collection  of  curios.  They  are  sup- 
posed to  have  been  painted  with  a  mixture  com- 
posed of  honey  and  wax,  for  paint  had  not  been 
discovered  in  those  ancient  days.  They  have 
marvellously  withstood  time's  ravages  for  they 
look  as  bright  to-day,  and  their  facial  expressions 
are  as  distinct,  as  if  it  were  but  three  years  in- 
stead of  three  thousand  years  since  these  were 
painted." 

He  bowed  politely  and  with  a  low,  soft  voice  he 
said :  "  I  am  under  deep  obligations  to  you, 
Madam,  since  your  explanation  has  enhanced 
their  artistic  value  in  my  estimation." 

'  *  Pray  don't  speak  of  it, ' '  she  continued.   ' i  One 

is  apt  to  attach  more  interest  to  any  object,  the 

moment  its  origin  can  be  traced. ' ' 

"Quite  so,"  he  interposed. 

"  Have  you  noticed  this  portrait,"  she  continued 

moving  towards  another  mummy ;   u  it  is  the  like- 


12  gelta:  or, 

ness  of  a  young  girl,  and  judging  from  the  features, 
she  must  have  been  very  beautiful." 

"  Yes,"  he  replied,  "  but  I  prefer  the  beauty  of 
the  19th  century,  there  is  a  subtile  refinement 
which  permeates  the  young  girl  of  to-day,  which 
was  totally  unknown  in  olden  times." 

Gelta  looked  up  into  his  face,  as  she  said  :  "  I 
perceive  you  have  some  odd  ideas,  for  I  have 
heard  many  people,  and  some  very  bright  ones, 
bemoan  the  fact  of  the  present  period's  lack  of 
chivalry  in  men,  and  refinement  in  women,  when 
compared  with  the  grace  of  all  those  who  lived 
in  the  ancient  days  of  song  and  knighterrantry." 

"That  is  a  grave  error,"  he  said  seriously, 
"  people  should  never  look  backwards,  progress 
means  forward." 

"  On  the  contrary,  I  firmly  believe  in  looking 
backwards,"  she  answered,  "  for  one  can  review 
the  faults  and  mistakes  that  have  been  committed 
in  the  past  by  people  with  the  best  of  intentions, 
and  draw  a  profitable  example  for  the  future. 
For  instance,  I  have  been  looking  back,"  she  said 
with  a  smile,  "  at  the  last  half  hour  and  my  pru- 
dent nature  has  cause  to  reproach  me  for  ex- 
changing ideas  with  a  stranger,  to  whom  I  have 
not  even  been  introduced." 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,"  he  answered,  thrusting 
his  hand  in  his  breast  pocket  as  if  searching  for 
a  visiting  card  which  he  did  not  find,  "  my  name 
is  Count  Varicoff,  and  yours  ?  "  he  slowly  inquired. 

"  Excuse  me,"  she  quickly  replied,  somewhat 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRICE.  13 

dismayed  at  the  turn  the  conversation  had  sud- 
denly taken,  "you  have  misconstrued  my  last 
remark !  I  did  not  expect  you  to  introduce  your- 
self, nor  do  I  intend  to  follow  your  example ; 
we  are  total  strangers,  we  have  accidentally, 
through  not  wishing  to  appear  discourteous,  ex- 
changed a  few  remarks  concerning  the  exhibits 
in  this  public  building,  Mais  ce  reste  la  !  " 

"  Ah ! "  he  said,  "  I  felt  positive  you  were 
French,  although  your  English  is  so  perfect !  " 

Gelta  smiled  and  replied,  "No,  I  am  not 
French !" 

"  Well,  then  with  those  wonderful  dark  eyes  of 
yours  you  must  belong  to  Spain." 

She  archly  shook  her  head  in  the  negative. 

"  Well,  then,  Italian." 

"No,"  she  continued,  "I  am  not  Italian." 

He  looked  at  her  thoroughly  puzzled ;  for  she 
had  answered  him  with  a  perfect  accent  in  the 
different  languages  with  which  he  had  associated 
her.  "  Certainly  not  German  ? "  he  queried. 
"  Nein  mein  Herr  ;  "  she  replied  with  a  delicious, 
German  accent. 

"  Well,  you  have  mystified  me,"  he  slowly  said, 
as  they  were  seating  themselves  on  a  bench,  facing 
a  huge  sarcophagus  which  contained  beneath  a 
glass  case,  the  whitened  skeleton  of  a  man. 

Gelta   turned   towards    the   Count  remarking, 

Look  at  this  Daked  cage  of  bone, 

From  -which  the  winged  soul  has  long  since  flown  ! 

It  has  a  special  fascination  for  me.     I  sat  here 


14  gelta:  or, 

for  several  hours  last  week,  trying  to  picture  to 
myself  whether  it  was  a  good  or  a  bad  man, 
who,  during  his  brief  existence,  inhabited  that 
worm  eaten  frame  ! ' 

"  You  seem  to  picture  life  in  a  very  gloomy 
aspect,"  he  replied  ;  "  one  would  scarcely  expect 
such  a  severe  view  from  so  brilliant  and  beautiful 
a  young  girl."  "  Beautiful  or  not,"  she  answered, 
"  what  does  it  all  amount  to  ?  "  and  lifting  to  his, 
her  face,  which  now  looked  lovely  from  the  in- 
ward agitation,  she  said,  "  Beauty,  youth,  wealth, 
what  does  it  all  amount  to  in  the  end  ?  there !  " 
pointing  to  the  skeleton,  "  merely  nothing.  Hence 
the  absurdity  of  thinking  oneself  better  than 
one's  neighbor.  If  one  is  really  superior,  then 
it  becomes  one's  duty  to  exercise  that  superiority 
with  a  gentle  kindness,  so  that  our  neighbors  may 
be  influenced  for  better,  by  its  gentle  contact. 
God  did  not  endow  some  of  us  with  better 
qualities  in  order  that  we  should  hoard  them,  or 
selfishly  hide  them,  or  stand  haughtily  aloof  from 
our  weaker  brothers ;  no,  God,  when  He  endowed 
some  of  us  with  the  stronger  qualities  of  virtue, 
did  so  solely  that  we  should  mingle  with  those 
less  virtuous,  that  they  may  be  lifted  up,  puri- 
fied, by  our  contact." 

He  contemplated  this  young  girl  in  silent 
wonder,  and  Gelta  unconsciously  continued  as  if 
she  were  speaking  to  a  dear  old  friend.  "Have 
you  seen  the  poor  in  the  East  end  of  London  ? " 
she  asked.    "Uo,"  he  replied,  "I  have  been  here 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRICE.  15 

only  a  few  days."  "Well,  since  my  arrival  two 
weeks  ago,"  she  continued,  "I  have  visited  that 
part  twice;  the  poverty  and  misery  are  simply 
appalling,  especially  the  wretched  condition  of  the 
poor  Russian  emigrant  Jews."  He  started  im- 
perceptibly. "They  are  driven  from  the  land  of 
their  birth,"  she  went  on,  "the  land  of  their  youth 
and  home  associates;  tossed  upon  this  island 
without  money,  without  friends,  without  even 
being  capable  of  speaking  a  word  of  the  language, 
and  their  personal  aspect  is  so  deplorable, 
rendered  so,  forcibly,  through  lack  of  the  com- 
mon necessities  during  their  wanderings,  that  the 
few  Gentiles  who  approach  them  become  imme- 
diately prejudiced  at  their  dirty  appearance." 

"You  have  pity  for  these  people,  these  Jews? 
Are  you  sure  they  deserve  it?" 

"Deserve  it?  Have  they  not  been  the  means  of 
civilizing  the  world?  Giving  it  poetry,  music, 
commerce,  religion,  a  God,  and  what  does  the 
Christian  in  his  ignorance  do  for  all  these  splen- 
did gifts?  Persecutes  the  Jew,  his  benefactor.' ' 
Then  turning  her  face  fully  towards  him,  she 
continued,  "Let  us  look  at  these  poor  persecuted 
people  for  a  brief  moment  with  an  unprejudiced 
eye.  They  are  religious.  They  are  moral.  They 
have  retained  many  wonderful  and  noble  virtues. 
They  bear  the  traces  of  the  divine  education,  for 
the  Jewish  nation  forms  a  wonderful  unity.  Other 
nations  are  formed  in  process  of  time,  through 


16  gelta:  ob, 

the  amalgamation  of  different  tribes  and  races. 
They  may  be  cognate  tribes,  still  they  are  differ- 
ent tribes  that  at  first  lived  together ;  and  after- 
wards coalesced,  and  in  course  of  time  became  a 
united  nation.  But  Israel,  consists  of  the  de- 
scendant's of  twelve  brothers.  They  are  one 
family.  They  are  not  an  aggregate  of  different 
tribes.  They  are  the  descendants  of  the  twelve 
sons  of  Jacob,  who  was  the  son  of  the  only  one 
— Isaac — who  was  the  son  of  Abraham.  They 
are  all  hewn  out  of  one  rock ;  one  family,  one 
brotherhood,  one  nation,  is  this  Israel." 

Count  Yaricoff  listened  silently  with  bowed 
head,  and  she  continued,  "  Israel  is  to  exist  as  a 
nation — to  the  very  end.  They  may  be  persecuted, 
they  may  be  put  to  death  in  many  places,  every 
kind  of  cruelty  may  be  practiced  against  them. 
People  may  try  to  diminish  their  population  or 
their  influence  as  they  did  in  Pharaoh's  time. 
They  may  be  hunted  and  chased  from  one  country 
to  another,  as  was  the  case  in  the  middle  ages  ; 
or  they  may  be  wealthy  and  honored,  influential 
and  cultured,  they  may  assimilate  themselves  with 
the  nations  among  whom  they  live !  They  will  al~ 
ways  remain  a  separate  nation  till  the  end  of  the 
world.  Neither  adversity  nor  prosperity  can  alter 
this.  God's  counsels  and  purposes  centre  in  them. 
All  the  promises  that  are  given  to  the  Gentile'  na- 
tions, have  their  centre  in  Israel.  Christianity  is 
incomprehensible  without  Judaism,  it  is  nothing, 
for  Christianity  is  merely  transposed  Judaism." 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRICE.  17 

"You  lament  the  old  faith?"  he  said  in  a  tone 
of  respect  not  unmoved ! 

"I  am  not  viewing  the  question  as  one  of 
faith,"  Gelta  answered  in  a  tone  of  plaintiveness. 
*  *  It  is  not  as  a  matter  of  religion,  but  as  a  matter 
I  should  say  of  private  right,  and  public  hap- 
piness." 

"You  plead  their  cause  with  much  feeling," 
interposed  the  Count. 

"It  is  my  own  cause,"  she  replied  simply.  "I 
belong  to  the  noble  house  of  Israel." 

"  Ah!  "  he  ejaculated  intently  looking  at  her. 

"You  seem  surprised,"  she  queried. 

"  Yes,  I  confess  I  am,"  he  answered,  M  for  you 
have  not  a  Jewish  cast  of  features. ' ' 

"No,  I  have  not,  I  admit,"  she  said,  "there- 
fore, I  am  very  rarely  taken  for  a  Jewess,  but  if 
you  will  observe  the  expression  of  my  eyes,  you 
will  see  that  divine  light  of  intelligence,  re- 
flected through  Israel's  daughters  who  glory 
in  a  race  of  forefathers  whose  efforts  have  ever 
been  to  benefit  and  uplift  humanity. 

The  Count  watched  the  deep  splendor  of  her 
eye,  and  the  mantling  of  her  radiant  cheek,  as  she 
spoke  those  latter  words  with  not  merely  anima- 
tion but  fervor;  his  gaze  rested  on  her  beautiful 
hair,  whose  long  brown  locks  of  luxuriant  richness 
were  drawn  off  a  low  Greek  forehead,  which  was 
the  very  throne  of  thought  and  majesty;  he 
watched  her  rich  coral  lips  still  quivering  with  the 


18 


passion  of  her  words.  "  But  upon  one  point  there 
can  be  no  controversy,"  said  the  Count  with  a 
smile  and  bowing,  "Jewess  or  not,  you  are  cer- 
tainly very  beautiful." 

"  Ah ! "  she  answered,  "  I  perceive  that  you  are 
a  flatterer." 

"  Not  at  all,  I  assure  you,  Madam,  I  am  only 
sincere  !  "  At  that  moment  light  footsteps  were 
heard  ;  some  visitors  had  entered  the  apartment. 
It  was  a  tall  mature  blonde  accompanied  by  a 
slight  young  man;  they  were  taking  a  hurried 
view  of  the  curios.  The  guard  continued  to  nap 
drowsily  at  the  further  end  of  the  room,  between 
the  two  coffins.  Gelta  and  the  Count  sat  silently, 
gazing  at  the  sarcophagus  in  front  of  them  con- 
taining the  fleshless  cage.  The  visitors  drew 
nearer  and  were  attracted  to  the  skeleton  in  the 
coffin  ;  then  the  lady  turned  and  looked  at  Gelta, 
who  in  her  turn  noticed  the  new  comer ;  a  flash 
of  recognition  passed  between  them.  Though 
they  were  not  personally  acquainted,  profession- 
ally they  had  met  several  times  in  Paris.  The 
lady  and  her  companion  moved  on,  and  Gelta 
turned  to  the  Count  and  in  an  undertone  she  said, 
"  that  lady,"  mentioning  her  name,  "  is  one  of  the 
most  famous  of  our  American  actresses." 

"  Indeed !  "  said  the  Count  turning  around  to 
get  a  good  look  at  the  retreating  figure,  "  I  have 
heard  of  her."  Then  he  continued,  once  more 
facing  Gelta,  "  she  seemed  to  recognize  you  !  " 

"  Oh  !  I  met  her  once  in  society ! "  Gelta  an- 


THE  CZAB  AND  THE  CANTATBICE.       19 

swered  carelessly,  and  rising  she  gaid,  "  I  think  it 
must  be  late." 

"  It  is  a  quarter  to  four,"  he  replied,  consulting 
his  watch.  "Fancy  we  have  been  sitting  here 
for  nearly  two  hours,"  he  added  with  a  smile. 

"  Indeed !  "  she  answered  with  surprised  mien, 
"  I  cannot  realize  it,  the  time  seems  to  have  flown 
so  quickly." 

"  I  agree  with  you,"  he  replied  smilingly.  They 
walked  on  in  silence  for  a  while,  they  had  entered 
into  the  next  apartment  and  were  listlessly  strol- 
ling along  without  being  especially  attracted  to 
any  one  object.  Few  or  no  visitors  seemed  to  be 
about.  Without  the  rain  came  down  in  torrents  ; 
so  they  lingered  in  the  different  rooms;  now  and 
again  perceiving  a  keeper  in  a  remote  corner 
napping.  They  all  appeared  to  be  affected  with 
a  comatose  condition,  evidently  from  lack  of  proper 
exercise  or  want  of  variety.  So  they  all  sat  peace- 
fully nodding,  and  every  now  and  then  opening 
an  eye,  to  scrutinize  a  stray  visitor ;  and  then 
drop  off  into  dreamland  again. 

They  had  passed  into  several  of  the  different 
apartments  when  moving  towards  a  seat  which  he 
indicated,  he  said,  "  Let  us  remain  here  for  a  few 
moments !  Do  you  know,"  he  continued,  as  they 
were  seating  themselves  once  more,  looking  her 
fully  in  the  face,  "your  eulogium  of  the  house  of 
Israel  has  quite  touched  me  ?  In  fact  you  have 
roused  my  sympathies  towards  that  race  !  I  have 
had  little  or  no  opportunity  to  study  them !  and 


20  gelta:  ob, 

the  very  few  I  have  met  had  their  characters  so 
distorted  by  my  friends,  who  introduced  them  to 
me,  that  I  am  fain  to  admit,  that  I  have  viewed 
them  with  a  prejudiced  eye ! 

"To  be  conscious,"  she  said  sweetly,  "that  you 
have  committed  a  fault,  is  a  great  step  toward 
reparation.  In  the  future,  I  hope  you  will  exer- 
cise a  little  more  Christianity  toward  your  fellow 
beings,  and  judge  people  by  their  personal  actions 
and  just  conduct,  and  not  by  the  accident  of  birth." 
He  bowed;  the  admonition  sank  deep  into  his 
heart;  then  rousing  himself  and  with  a  peculiar 
ring  in  his  voice,  he  said: 

"You  Americans  are  a  wonderful  people:  you 
think  nothing  of  traveling  all  over  the  world  in 
order  to  gain  a  keen  knowledge  and  insight  into 
the  different  people's  character.  Tell  me,  have 
you  ever  been  to  Eussia?  " 

"No,"  she  answered,  "nor  have  I  any  desire 
to  go  there." 

"And  yet,  I  have  been  told,"  he  observed,  "that 
it  is  a  very  delightful  country  and  that  the  Eus- 
sians  are  a  very  affable  class  of  people." 

"Perhaps  they  are,"  she  answered,  "but  I,  as  a 
true  American  girl  and  a  Jewess,  do  not  admire 
their  way  of  government." 

"Ah,  you  take  an  active  interest  in  politics?" 

"Not  at  all,"  she  replied,  "  only  passive.  When 
one  reads  the  daily  papers,  one  is  perforce  aufait 
of  current  events."  A  moment's  silence  elapsed, 
then  he  resumed,  meanwhile  watching  her  face 


THE  CZAB  AND  THE  CJANTATRICE.  21 

intently:  "The  Czar  must  be  a  heartless  tyrant, 
judging  from  the  accounts  of  his  action  in  the 
press !  I  should  think  the  world  would  be  better 
off  without  him." 

"  I  do  not  agree  with  you,"  she  quietly  said;  "  if 
the  present  Czar  were  to  die,  or  be  assassinated, 
some  one  equally  as  harsh  would  succeed  him, 
and  ninety  million  souls  would  still  be  tyranized 
over.  No,"  she  continued,  "  it  is  not  the  present 
Czar,  who  is  at  fault,  but  his  manner  of  govern- 
ing ;  he  follows  the  precedents  of  his  ancestors, 
who,  during  their  reign  over  an  uncivilized  set  of 
people,  were  no  doubt  compelled,  to  adopt  certain 
methodical  tortures ;  but  it  is  the  gravest  mistake 
for  a  monarch,  in  this  enlightened  age,  to  persist 
in  employing  remnants  of  ancient  barbarism."  He 
offered  no  comment  and  she  continued:  "  I  pity 
the  Czar  and  his  family." 

"  You  pity  the  Czar,"  he  said,  interrupting  her, 
and  with  suppressed  animation  continued:  "You, 
a  Jewess,  can  have  a  feeling  of  pity  for  the  Czar, 
who  has  done  so  much  towards  persecuting  your 
race  ?  " 

"It  is  for  that  very  reason,"  she  remarked, 
"  that  I  solemnly  pity  the  Czar,  because  he  does 
not  realize  the  enormity  of  his  crime,  because  he 
does  not  realize  the  dreadful  sufferings  he  has 
heaped  upon  his  subjects;  in  his  dreadful  ignor- 
ance, inculcated  solely  by  ancient  barbaric  ideas, 
he  sorely  needs  our  pity,  for  his  life  must  be  a 
perfect  misery :  always  on  the  alert  to  ward  off 


22  gelta:  or, 

the  assassin's  blow,  never  feeling  sure  of  the  real 
devotion  of  his  nearest  kin ;  and  knowing  that 
Russia's  throne  cannot  remain  upon  its  tottering 
pedestal  much  longer  —  realizing  all  this  as  he 
certainly  must,  and  not  having  the  strength  of 
character,  the  manliness,  to  break  through  those 
barbaric  traditions,  and  abolish  torture  and  in- 
human punishments,  not  having  the  courage  to 
be  progressive  and  move  with  the  age  in  its  en- 
lightened ideas ;  seeing  all  this  as  he  certainly 
must,  hated  and  feared  by  his  nearest  subjects, 
he  is  indeed  a  truly  wretched  man,  and  worthy  of 
all  right  thinking  people's  pity.' 

She  looked  radiant  in  her  eloquence  ;  every 
word  of  hers  had  gone  straight  to  his  soul  like  so 
many  arrows  of  truth.  His  eyes  had  been  riveted 
upon  her  compassionate  countenance.  Then  with 
agitated  voice  he  said  : 

"You  would  make  a  superb  heroine  for  the 
Nihilistic  cause." 

"  Thank  you,  she  said,  rising  with  chilly  hau- 
teur ;  "  you  forget  that  I  am  a  true  Jewess,  there- 
fore I  do  not  approve  of  dark  underhand  plotting 
or  brutal  murder.  The  house  of  Israel  from  its 
very  origin  dealt  with  its  opponents  openly. 
There  never  were  any  underhand  plottings  or 
dark  woven  conspiracies  in  Israel's  controversies 
with  their  opponents,  never ;  when  Abraham 
embraced  Judiasm,  he  did  it  openly,  when  Moses 
undertook  to  liberate  the  Jews  from  their  bond- 
age, he  did  not  assassinate  his  opponent  King 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRICE.  23 

Pharoah,  in  whose  palace  lie  often  visited.  No, 
but  he  demanded  their  liberation  openly !  As  a 
matter  of  justice  and  public  right.  To  this  day 
the  character,  there  are  precious  few  among 
Israel's  children  who  are  house-breakers,  mur- 
derers or  fiends  incarnate  ;  for  Israel  is  a  peace- 
loving  race,  and  shrinks  from  the  sight  of  blood. 
Therefore  they  have  at  time  been  called  cowards, 
but  their  nobility  of  soul  treats  with  silent  con- 
tempt the  epithets   thrust  at  them  by  ignorance." 

He  bowed  very  low  as  he  apologized  for  having 
made  a  remark  which  she  had  misconstrued  into 
an  insult. 

"  Oh !  you  could  not  insult  me,"  she  said,  her 
hauteur  having  somewhat  relaxed  into  a  smile. 
"  I  simply  wanted  to  disabuse  your  mind  of  its 
narrow  conceptions  of  the  Jew's  characteristics." 

They  were  passing  into  the  next  apartment  in 
order  to  leave  the  building  when  Gelta  neared 
the  exit.  She  saw  the  door  was  closed ;  she  tried 
it  and  found  it  had  been  locked.  She  stood  for  a 
few  moments  silently  perplexed  ;  the  blood  rose 
to  her  cheek ;  her  heart  trembled ;  for  the  first 
time  in  his  presence  she  felt  embarrassed.  His 
countenance  on  the  contrary  was  collected,  serious 
and  pale.  A  mad  impulse  had  flashed  through 
his  being !  he  yearned  to  take  this  lovely  girl  in 
his  arms,  to  kiss  those  lustrous  daring  eyes,  to 
fold  her  to  his  heart !  "  But,"  he  reasoned,  "  one 
imprudent  gesture  might  lose  her  to  me  for  ever ; " 
for  a  vague  hope  had  flittered  through  his  mind 


24  gelta:  or, 

that  some  day  their  lives  would  be  linked  together. 
So,  after  a  moment's  silence  he  remarked  with  a 
clear,  calm  voice,  "I  see  we  are  locked  in." 

"  Yes,"  she  replied,  in  a  constrained  tone.  "  Is 
there  no  other  exit  about  here  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  No,"  she  answered  ;  "  what's  the  time  ?  " 

"  Nearly  seven  o'clock,"  he  said  looking  at  his 
watch. 

"  Oh !  that  accounts  for  it,"  replied  Gelta, 
"  they  close  at  six ; "  and  then,  as  she  suddenly 
recollected — "  they  open  at  8  P.  M.,  so  we  won't 
have  long  to  wait.  So  stupid  of  those  sleepy 
guards  not  to  have  warned  us  ! " 

"  Yes,"  he  assented,  and  inwardly  he  blessed 
their  negligence.  They  returned  to  the  room  they 
had  just  left. 

"  Won't  you  be  seated  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  No,  thanks,  I  prefer  standing,"  she  answered  ; 
as  she  in  silence  began  slowly  to  pace  up  and 
down  the  room.  He  saw  that  her  mind  was  agit- 
ated, so  he  made  no  attempt  to  join  her  ;  which 
somewhat  reassured  Gelta,  for  she  became  more 
calm.  Then  after  a  pause  she  again  asked  the 
time. 

"  It  is  a  quarter  of  eight,"  he  replied,  replacing 
the  watch  in  his  pocket. 

"  Fifteen  minutes  more,"  she  thought ! 

"Won't  you  tell  me  your  name?"  he  asked 
again  with  pleading  voice.  "  I  give  you  my  word 
of  honor  that  you  will  never  have  cause  to  re- 
gret, for  having  made  an  exception,  in  my  behalf ; 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRICE.       25 

for  dispensing  with,  the  formality  of  being  pro- 
perly introduced;  since  we  are  both  foreigners 
away  from  home.  And  then,"  he  slowly  added, 
throwing  down  as  if  it  were  the  trump  card,  "  I 
may  be  able  to  persuade  some  of  my  friends,  to 
render  the  poor  immigrant  Jews  in  the  East  End 
some  practical  assistance." 

"Really?"  exclaimed  Gelta  with  undisguised 
pleasure,  her  face  lighting  up  with  enthusiasm. 
And  as  she  gazed  fully  into  his  heavenly  blue 
eyes  she  felt  part  of  her  soul  go  out  to  him. 

She  was  visibly  troubled  at  the  new  feeling 
which  had  invaded  her  being ;  with  downcast  eyes 
and  subdued  tones  she  said:  "  Pray,  don't  insist 
further  for  the  present,  but  if  you  will  let  me 
know  where  a  letter  might  reach  you,  I  will  think 
it  over  and  let  you  know  to-morrow." 

"  To-morrow !  to-morrow,"  he  echoed,  "seems  a 
long  way  off.  Why  not  now? "  he  pleaded.  "  There 
is  no  time  like  the  present." 

"  I  beg  of  you  as  a  gentleman,  not  to  insist  fur- 
ther." 

He  bowed  in  low  submissiveness,  then  tore  a 
scrap  of  blank  paper  out  of  a  diary  and  wrote 
upon  it  "  Count  Varicoff,  45  Portland  Square !  " 

As  he  handed  it  to  her  their  hands  met  for  the 
first  time,  a  sweet  thrill  rapidly  coursed  through 
their  beings  as  they  stood  silently  facing  each 
other  for  a  brief  moment;  the  place  had  suddenly 
become  transformed  into  a  paradise — they  heard 
the  door  being  unlocked  and  saw  the  guard  re- 


26  gelta:  or, 

turn  without  evincing  the  slightest  surprise  at 
their  being  there. 

Mechanically  they  made  their  exit,  without 
asking,  or  giving  any  explanation  to  the  attendant, 
who  simply  smiled  while  watching  the  retreating 
couple.  Soon  they  found  themselves  outside  the 
museum;  she  beckoned  to  a  hansom. 

"Won't  you  let  me  drive  you  to  your  resi- 
dence," he  pleaded  as  she  entered  the  cab. 

"No,"  she  said  quietly  but  firmly,  "not  this 
evening." 

"  Will  you  visit  the  museum  to-morrow  after- 
noon?" 

"  I  cannot  say,"  she  answered. 

"  You  will  be  sure  to  write  to  me  ?  " 

"  On  my  word  I  promise  to  do  so." 

He  lifted  his  hat,  his  eyes  beaming  with  a  poetic 
fire  at  her  last  assurance;  then,  putting  his  head 
near  to  hers,  he  whispered:  "Where  shall  I  tell 
him  to  drive  you? " 

She  smiled  and  said,  "  Towards  Charing  Cross." 

"  You  are  cruel,"  he  replied  reproachfully;  "  but 
you  will  write  ?  " 

"Without  a  doubt." 

"  Thanks,"  he  said  grasping  her  hand  with  fer- 
vor and  holding  it  for  a  moment.  Then  he  told 
the  cabman  to  drive  towards  Charing  Cross,  and 
with  another  clasp  of  the  hands  and  a  bow,  Gelta 
was  soon  out  of  sight. 


THE  CZAB  AND  THE  CANTATRIOE.       27 


CHAPTEE  IL 

It  was  night,  clear  and  serene,  though  the  moon 
had  not  risen;  a  vast  concourse  of  persons  were 
hurrying  to  and  fro.  The  Count's  slight  form 
mingled  with  the  pedestrians  in  Kegent  street. 
The  North  wind  blew  softly  over  his  face,  while 
an  almost  transparent  mist  of  rain  spread  slowly 
over  London  again.  The  Count's  brain  was  a 
whirl  of  undefined  and  conflicting  emotions,  and 
he  gave  himself  up  to  them  with  strange  delight; 
for  'twas  not  in  vain  that  he  had  felt  the  pressure 
of  her  beautiful  hand.  The  touch  had  been  but 
of  a  few  seconds,  but  even  this  very  short  time 
sufficed  to  electrify  him  through  and  through:  to 
make  another  man  of  him. 

An  electric  current  takes  but  a  second  to 
change  apiece  of  iron  into  a  magnet;  a  single 
moment  will  produce  on  the  photographic  plate 
the  picture  of  a  landscape  or  a  human  figure. 
The  body,  the  soul,  the  attractiveness  and 
beauty  of  that  willowy  being  had  fixed  itself  in- 
delibly on  the  Grand  Duke  Demetrius.  "When 
he  returned  to  his  house  in  Portland  square, 
which  had  been  placed  at  his  disposal  for  himself 
and  suite,  he  was  much  astonished  to  see  his 
faithful  old  secretary,  Baron  Gorschofsky  full  of 
agitation. 

"  So  late,  your  Highness,"  said  Gorschofsky  in 


28  gelta:  ob, 

a  tone  of  relief.  "  I  was  in  such  an  awful  suspense 
when  you  did  not  return  at  five  o'clock  as  you 
said  you  would.  I  feared  lest  some  of  those  Ni- 
hilist dogs  who  infest  Soho  square  might  have 
been  apprised  of  your  being  in  London  and — " 

"  No  fear  of  that,"  said  the  Count  good  natur- 
edly,  interupting  him;  "  our  secret  is  too  well  kept. 
Besides,  very  few  people  would  recognize  your 
Master  in  these  plain  citizens  clothes  on  a  crowded 
thoroughfare  in  London.  It  is  the  old  saying: 
'One  is  most  isolated  amidst  a  crowd.'  Has 
Prince  Sfcarabielsky  been  here?" 

"Yes,  your  Highness,  he  called  at  three  o'clock 
and  looked  somewhat  disappointed  at  not  finding 
your  Highness  in."  Gorschofsky  answered  with 
bowed  head,  and  silently  waited  for  further  in- 
structions. 

"  Very  well,"  replied  the  Count  after  a  few  mo- 
ment's musing  ;  "  I  will  see  Prince  Starabielsky 
to-morrow  morning  at  11  sharp  ;  and  now  you 
can  leave  me  ;  I  shall  retire  early  as  I  feel  some- 
what fatigued,  and  a  good  long  sleep  will  refresh 
me. 

"  Has  your  Highness  decided  to  return  home  at 
the  end  of  this  week  ?  " 

"  Yes,  Gorschofsky,  therefore  you  must  not  fail 
to  expedite  those  other  matters  !  " 

"  Everything  will  be  in  perfect  readiness,  your 
Highness ;  any  further  instructions  ?  " 

"  Not  at  present,"  replied  the  Count ;  and  Gor- 
schofsky, bowing  very  low,  silently  left  the  room. 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE   CANTATRICE.  29 

For  some  time  Count  Varicoff  sat  perfectly  mo- 
tionless, lost  in  deep  thought.  State  affairs  of 
vast  import,  family  ties,  home  duties,  all  in  their 
turn  quickly  presented  themselves  in  his  mental 
gallery  ;  and  amid  them  all,  standing  out  in  bold 
relief,  was  the  lovely  face  of  the  young  girl,  who 
had  unconsciously  crossed  his  path  that  afternoon. 
"  I  cannot  believe  "  he  mused,  "  that  our  meeting 
was  only  an  accident !  No  !  it  was  intended  by 
fate ! "  and  then  a  mellow  warmth  pervaded  his 
entire  being !  "  Ah !  "  he  sighed,  "  and  to  think  I 
do  not  even  know  her  name  !  "  However,  he  felt 
convinced  she  would  grant  him  another  opportu- 
nity of  meeting  her,  since  he  had  rightly  read  in 
her  passionate  eyes,  an  unconscious  gleam,  testi- 
fying he  was  not  altogether  indifferent  to  her. 
And  then  he  thought  how  strange  it  is  that  she 
should  be  a  Jewess — a  daughter  of  a  race  upon 
whom  he  had  always  looked  down  with  scorn ! 
And  then  he  tried  to  shake  off  with  a  laugh  a 
touch  of  remorse ;  at  the  thought  of  how  many 
innocent  Jews  had  felt  the  awful  sting  of  his  deep- 
rooted  prejudice.  "  Never  mind !  "  he  jocularly 
concluded ;  "  I  will  make  amends  by  loving  a 
Jewess — to-morrow  I  may  see  her."  And  so  he 
retired,  that  to-morrow  might  arrive  sooner 


30  gelta:  or, 


CHAPTEK  III. 

Gelta  soon  arrived  at  her  hotel  and  after  hav- 
ing partaken  of  some  light  supper,  she  comfort- 
ably ensconced  herself  in  an  easy  chair,  and  essayed 
to  drink  in  the  poetic  beauties  of  her  favorite 
Tasso's  "Jerusalem  delivered.'*  She  felt  more 
serene  and  cheerful  than  for  a  long  period  had 
been  her  wont.  Sometimes  she  turned  for  a  mo- 
ment from  her  volume  and  fell  into  a  deep  reverie 
of  the  morrow.  She  sighed  for  the  good  old  days 
when  she  had  her  treasured  mother's  love  to  shield 
herself  in  from  the  cold  calculating  world ;  she 
saw  herself  once  more  a  little  babe  surrounded  by 
the  most  unselfish  and  tenderest  loves  ;  she  saw 
herself  once  more  a  happy  careless  child,  before 
hard  study  and  relentless  ambition  had  been 
crowded  into  her  innocent  life  ;  then  there  rose 
before  her  all  those  touching  images  of  the  past, 
and  she  compared  her  present  isolation  from  all 
kindred  ties,  and  her  eyes  filled  with  tears.  She 
realized  for  the  first  time  what  a  void  there  had 
been  in  her  heart  since  her  mother's  death.  She 
had  tried  to  shut  out  the  yearning  with  constant 
work  and  occupation,  but  now  the  yearning  became 
once  more  sensible.  And  blended  with  it  the 
thought,  of  one, — whom  she  had  met  that  day,  and 
who  alas,  did  not  impress  her  at  all  like  a  stranger  ! 
but  on  the  contrary  seemed  like  an  old  and  trusted 


THR  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRICE.       31 

friend.  His  voice  even  now  lingered  in  her  ears ; 
she  recalled  without  an  effort  those  tones  of  the 
afternoon,  tones  so  full  of  sympathy  and  yet  of 
wisdom,  that  had  sounded  so  full  of  tenderness 
for  her.  Never  had  man  appeared  to  her  in  a 
light  so  subduing.  A  thousand  images,  dazzling 
and  wild,  rose  in  her  mind  ;  a  thousand  thoughts, 
beautiful  and  quivering,  clustered  round  her 
heart.  For  a  moment  she  indulged  in  impossible 
dreams,  and  seemed  to  have  entered  a  newly-dis- 
covered world.  The  horizon  of  her  experience 
expanded  like  the  glittering  heaven  of  a  fairy  tale ; 
her  eyes  were  fixed  in  lustrous  contemplation; 
the  flush  on  her  cheek  was  a  messenger  from  her 
heart,  the  movement  of  her  mouth  would  have  in 
an  instant  become  a  smile,  when  the  clock  struck 
twelve !  and  Gelta  started  from  her  reverie  and 
decided  to  retire  at  once,  and  not  think  till  morn- 
ing. But  all  night  she  lay  with  open  eyes.  Sleep 
did  not  woo  her — she  was  strangely  feverish  and 
agitated.  Night  waned,  and  Gelta  was  at  last 
slumbering;  the  cold  that  preceded  the  dawn  had 
stolen  over  her  senses  and  calmed  the  excitement 
of  her  nerves.  Her  slumber  was  brief  and  dis- 
turbed, but  it  had,  in  a  great  degree,  soothed  the 
irritated  brain.  She  woke,  however,  in  terror  from 
a  dream  in  which  she  saw  herself  hopelessly  in 
love  with  the  strange  man,  whom  she  had  met 
only  the  previous  afternoon  at  the  museum  ;  and 
who,  although  he  reciprocated  her  deep  love, 
could  never  be  her  husband  !    She  sat  for  some 


32  gelta:  ob, 

time  on  the  edge  of  her  bed,  she  seemed  with 
open  eyes  still  to  continue  her  dream,  still  to  ex- 
perience the  new  sensation  which  had  come  over 
her.  As  she  saw  her  passionate  lover  pleading 
at  her  feet,  slowly  came  over  Gelta  the  conviction 
that  it  was  Fate,  who  had  willed  this  unlooked 
for  meeting,  in  order  to  juggle  with  her  feelings. 
She  remained  for  some  time  bowed  in  silent 
prayer.  Then  she  rose  with  a  determined  calm- 
ness, as  she  mentally  resolved  to  out-wit  Fate ! 
That  morning  she  was  to  visit  White  Chapel,  but 
before  doing  so,  she  sat  down  and  wrote  to  the 
Count,  since  she  had  given  her  word  that  he 
would  hear  from  her.  She  likewise  determined 
to  leave  London  that  very  week,  in  order  that  she 
should  not  change  the  good  resolution  which  she 
had  formed.  Never  again  would  she  see  the  only 
man  who  had  impressed  her  girlish  heart ! 


CHAPTEE  IV. 

On  the  following  morning,  after  a  sleepless 
night,  the  Grand  Duke  Demetrius  was  sitting  in 
his  study  enjoying  the  conviction  that  he  would 
that  day  again  see  his  beautiful  incognita,  and 
would  then  learn  her  name.  He  also  determined 
in  return  to  divulge  to  her  his  own  high  family 
connections,  and  the  name  by  which  he  was  really 
known.  Of  course,  Count  Yaricoff  was  one  of  his 
numerous  titles  ;  but  he  very  rarely  availed  him- 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  OANTATRICE.       33 

self  of  its  use  ;  lie  also  determined  to  speak  of  his 
feelings  towards  her,  and  see  what  plans  they 
could  arrange  for  the  future,  since  his  stay  in 
London  was  of  necessity  very  limited.  He  had 
given  strict  orders  to  his  valet  not  to  be  disturb- 
ed by  callers  before  eleven  o'clock.  When  he  was 
once  more  alone  he  fell  into  a  deep  reverie  ;  he 
thought  of,  and  analyzed  the  manifold  feelings  of 
that  happy  moment  when  he  first  beheld  her  in  the 
treasure  room,  and  when  later  she  sat  near  and  con- 
versed with  him,  when  with  glowing  eyes  he  out- 
lined her  beautiful  form.  And,  oh !  that  voice  ! 
which  had  thrilled  his  soul ;  he  had  the  feeling  as 
if  she  were  still  sitting  near  him  ;  he  felt  that 
mighty  feverish  sensation,  which  for  the  first  time 
in  his  life,  had  come  over  him  at  sight  of  her.  He 
had  seen  and  courted  hundreds  of  beautiful  women. 
He  had  fluttered  like  others  from  flower  to  flower, 
and  like  others,  had  often  fancied  the  last  perfume 
the  sweetest,  and  then  had  flown  away  But  now 
he  was  entirely  captivated.  This  was  the  first 
woman  who  without  suing,  had  involuntarily  got 
closer  to  his  heart  than  all  other  women. 

He  could  not  forget  that  when  he  had  held  her 
hand  on  parting,  though  it  had  been  but  for  one 
short  moment,  the  touch  had  sufficed  to  electrify 
him  through  and  through.  He  could  not  forget 
this  embrace  of  the  palm.  It  would  last  for  ever ! 
as  long  as  life.  For  this  delirium  of  the  senses 
he  found,  as  one  always  does,  but  one  anodyne,  to 
possess  her. 


34  gelta:  or, 

Exactly  at  eleven  o'clock  Baron  Gorschofsky 
announced  Prince  Starabielsky.  The  Prince  sub- 
mitted several  matters  of  State  in  the  interest  of 
the  Bussian  government  which  had  been  com- 
pleted, and  then  he  withdrew.  The  Grand  Duke 
soon  dispatched  some  other  official  visitors,  and 
when  he  found  himself  once  more  alone,  im- 
mediately his  thoughts  flew  to  her.  It  was  now 
half-past  twelve  o'clock.  She  had  not  written, 
which  he  considered  a  very  good  omen,  for  he  felt 
sure  she  would  again  meet  him  that  afternoon. 
After  hurriedly  partaking  of  a  light  lunch,  he 
drove  to  the  British  Museum,  in  order  to  find 
himself  within  the  room  which  she  had  but  yes- 
terday graced  with  her  presence.  At  first  he  did 
not  notice  how  long  he  had  waited,  as  he  sat  there 
upon  the  same  bench,  which  she  yesterday  only 
had  shared  with  him;  he  was  plunged  in  medi- 
tations, he  remembered  how  the  first  look  which 
he  had  thrown  on  her  childish  face  had  evoked 
within  him  feelings  such  as  he  had  never  known 
for  any  other  being  on  earth.  How  warm  and 
tender  was  the  bright  flush  of  her  deep  set 
eyes,  how  gracefully  symetrical  her  form,  how 
thick  the  masses  of  dark  brown  wavv  hair  that 

m 

clustered  behind  her  small  quick  ear,  all  the 
smallest  details  of  her  were  indelibly  graven  on 
his  memory;  he  sat  there  with  feverish  expec- 
tancy, and  every  now  and  then,  when  sounds  of  a 
few  visitors  strolling  into  the  room  reached  him, 
he  would  quickly  turn  his  head  towards  the  door, 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRLCE.  35 

hoping  to  see  his  beautiful  incognita,  and  after 
each  disappointment  console  himself  with  the 
thought  that  she  would  come  a  little  later;  and 
then  he  would  once  more  indulge  in  sweet  mys- 
terious reveries. 

And  so  the  hours  slowly  rolled  on  but  she  came 
not.  He  consulted  his  watch  for  the  hundredth 
time  and  found  it  was  a  few  minutes  after  five 
o'clock,  he  knew  the  place  closed  at  six;  he  still 
hoped  that  she  might  walk  in  perhaps  at  the  very 
last  moment,  and  so  he  waited.  He  mentally  re- 
peated every  word,  every  look  that  had  passed 
between  them,  and  he  felt  convinced  that  he  had 
impressed  her  favorably — therefore  he  never  for  a 
moment  thought  that  he  would  not  see  her  again. 
However,  he  remained  until  the  museum  closed, 
then  he  hurried  home,  hoping  to  find  a  note  from 
her,  since  she  had  given  him  her  word  that  she 
would  write,  and  he  was  right  in  feeling  sure  that 
he  would  hear  from  her;  but  it  was  not  till  the 
next  morning  after  a  most  restless  night,  filled 
with  agitated  dreams  that,  as  he  was  pacing  up 
and  down  his  study,  his  servant  entered  and  de- 
livered a  letter  marked  personal,  which  had  been 
posted  late  the  night  before.  The  writing  though 
bold  and  well-formed  was  in  a  lady's  hand,  which 
indicated  great  strength  of  character  in  the  writer. 
He  hesitated  before  opening  it,  as  instinct  told 
him  it  was  from  his  fair  incognita;  he  wanted  to 
gather  all  his  courage  before  perusing  its  con- 
tents. 


36  qelta:  or, 

There  are  moments,  when  we  feel  a  crisis  is 
about  to  take  place  in  our  lives  and  we  hesitate, 
in  order  to  collect  our  strength,  to  counteract  the 
shock  which  we  may  have  to  face.  Such  moments, 
demonstrate  to  us  our  will  power. 

Demetrius  glanced  once  more  about  the  room 
to  be  sure  he  was  alone,  then  hurriedly  unsealed 
the  letter.     It  ran  thus. 

Dear  Count,  I  write  this  as  I  promised  that 
you  would  hear  from  me.  I  have  given  much 
serious  thought  to  our  meeting,  and  would  have 
been  delighted,  if  we  could  have  still  further  cul- 
tivated our  acquaintance,  if  only  in  the  interest 
of  those  poor  Kussian  emigrant  Jews,  in  whose 
behalf,  you  told  me  you  would  practically  interest 
some  of  your  influential  friends.  However,  I 
sincerely  hope  that  our  not  meeting  again,  will 
not  deter  you  from  your  noble  resolution,  in  at- 
tempting to  assist,  those  friendless  strangers, 
whom  religious  bigotry  has  driven  from  their 
own  native  land  upon  a  foreign  isle  !  , 

In  order  to  disabuse  your  mind  of  any  notion 
that  because  of  several  remarks  you  made,  during 
our  conversation,  I  may  feel  somewhat  prejudiced 
against  you,  I  will  be  bold  enough  to  confess  my 
real  reason,  for  my  desire  never  to  meet  you 
again.  In  the  first  place,  ever  since  our  meeting 
yesterday,  I  have  tried  to  picture  you  as  the  total 
stranger  which  you  in  reality  are  to  me ;  but, 
alas !  you  seemed  like  an  old  friend ! — like  one 
whom  I  had  always  known,  then  again,  intuition 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRICE.       37 

tells  me,  that  you  also  felt  yourself  drawn  towards 
me  ;  pray  do  not  take  the  last  expressed  thought 
for  personal  conceit,  I  had  read  of  such  feelings, 
but  did  not  believe  in  them — did  not  believe,  at 
least,  until  I  met  you — and  yet,  I  have  met  many 
persons,  and  seen  something  more,  much  more, 
than  falls  to  the  lot  of  women  of  my  age  !  Believe 
me,  indeed,  my  eye  has  hitherto  been  undazzled, 
and  my  heart  untouched.  My  dear  Count,  I  speak 
plainly,  because  I  think  plainly,  and  I  feel  some- 
how, that  you  would  wish  me  to  speak  plainly.  I 
cannot  think  that  our  meeting  was  entirely  due 
to  chance,  but  meant  by  fate,  to  juggle  with  the 
feelings  of  two  beings,  whose  destinies,  lie  far 
asunder !  I  have  determined  to  leave  London  this 
very  day,  so  that  we  may  never,  never  meet  again. 
With  best  wishes  for  your  everlasting  happiness, 
I  remain, 

Tours  sincerely, 

After  having  several  times  roread  the  letter 
which  his  trembling  hand  still  held,  after  having 
several  times  drank  in,  wholly  absorbed,  each 
word,  each  thought  as  it  were,  Count  Varicoff 
sank  down  upon  a  couch.  Something  within  him 
had  snapped — a  feeling  of  awful  woe  pervaded 
him,  and  for  the  first  time,  since  he  had  grown  to 
manhood,  he  wept  bitter  tears;  then  he  sat  motion- 
less for  a  long  time,  dazed;  he  felt  a  terrible  blank, 
like  that  which  meets  the  deep  thinker,  when  he 
vainly  tries  to  pierce  into  the  hidden  and  unknown. 


38  GELTA  :  OR, 

Baffled  sympathy  was  the  cause  of  the  Count's 
gloom.  It  is  the  secret  spring  of  most  melan- 
cholies. He  loved,  and  loved  in  vain !  The  con- 
vection, that  his  passion,  though  hopeless,  was 
not  looked  upon  with  disfavor,  only  made  him  the 
more  wretched,  for  the  disappointment  is  more 
acute,  in  proportion,  as  the  chance  is  better. 

Two  days  later  after  having  remained  in  his 
rooms  plunged  in  the  deepest  melancholy,  he  went 
forth  to  visit  the  museum,  once  more  before  his 
departure  for  home,  to  linger  near  the  place  where 
he  had  first  beheld  her;  and  as  he  found  himself 
once  more  seated  on  the  same  bench,  he  heard  an 
inward  voice  whisper,  that  they  would  meet  again. 
"But  how  ?  "  he  queried  mentally,  " I  do  not  even 
know  her  name,  or  to  what  country  she  has  gone  to. 
No,"  he  ejaculated,  "there  is  no  hope, — but, 
oh !  how  cruel  of  her,"  he  mused,  "  not  to  tell  me 
her  name,  the  thought  of  not  even  knowing 
the  name  of  the  one  woman  who  has  entered 
my  heart,  is  beyond  endurance,"  and  so  he 
sat  there  for  hours  with  staring  eyes,  lost  in 
reverie. 

The  guard  between  the  two  coffins  at  the 
further  end  of  the  room,  smilingly  watched  him ; 
for  he  divined  that  it  was  not  the  curios  which 
surrounded  him  that  had  interest,  for  this  melan- 
choly visitor !  "  Oh,  no,"  he  mentally  concluded 
in  cockney  refrain,  "  they  all  get  hit  that  way ! 
Oh !  them  women ! " 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATBIOE.  39 


CHAPTER  Y. 

Gelta  was  preparing  to  return  to  Paris  a  few 
days  later,  and  determined  to  re-visit  the  different 
buildings  of  interest  in  London  before  her  de- 
parture. 

Time  passes  with  rapid  flight  during  the  first 
period  of  sojourn  in  a  new  place,  among  new 
characters,  and  new  manners.  Every  person, 
every  incident,  every  feeling,  touches  and  stirs  the 
imagination.  The  restless  mind  creates  and  ob- 
serves at  the  same  time.  Gelta  found  this  during 
the  first  days  of  her  new  residence  in  London. 
Although  she  had  passed  several  months  of  sight- 
seeing in  London  while  yet  a  child  with  her 
mother,  still  in  re-visiting  those  same  places  of 
interest,  she  viewed  them  all  in  a  new  light. 
After  devoting  the  first  few  weeks  since  her  arrival 
in  London  to  the  business  part  connected  with 
her  concerts,  she  gave  herself  up  wholly  to  visit- 
ing the  different  places  of  interest. 

Next  to  the  British  Museum,  was  the  National 
Gallery,  in  which  she  admired,  with  something  of 
awe,  the  glorious  paintings  of  the  great  masters. 
One  moment  she  would  drink  in  the  beauties  of 
Raphael's  Madonna,  next  she  would  feast  her 
eyes  on  a  glorious  Holbein,  then  she  would  gaze 
in  mute  admiration  on  a  Rubens,  with  its  volupt- 
ous   women   and    athletic  men,  through  whose 


40  gelta:  ob, 

veins  seemed  to  course  the  glow  of  life,  and  then 
again  on  Sir  Joshua  [Reynolds'  Cherubs,  whose 
limpid  eyes  reflected  the  calm  peace  of  Heaven. 
And  so,  for  hours  she  would  linger,  and  lose  her- 
self, amid  the  beautiful  creations  of  genius,  which 
had  passed  through  the  earth,  only  to  deposit  the 
child  of  its  mind,  for  the  elevation  of  posterity. 
Gelta  also  experienced  great  pleasure  in  roaming 
about  Westminster  Abbey,  and  St.  Paul's  Cathe- 
dral. There,  amid  the  graves,  and  effiges  of  de- 
parted greatness,  how  transient  seemed  humanity, 
with  its  hates,  its  vanities,  its  worldy  ambitions, 
its  futile  struggle  for  brief  authority  and  accu- 
mulation of  wealth ;  and  what  in  the  end  did  it 
all  amount  to?  Thus  moralizing  she  would  wait 
for  the  afternoon  service,  and  listen  to  the 
music  which  flooded  the  Cathedral  from  the  grand 
organ,  until  she  felt  her  soul  swimming  in  a  per- 
fect elysium  of  harmony  and  light,  which  was 
pouring  in  upon  her,  from  another,  an  everlasting, 
a  peaceful  happy  world.  Then  she  would  return 
to  her  hotel,  soothed  with  the  reflection,  that 
humanity  will  not  always  suffer. 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRIOE.  41 


CHAPTER  VI. 

Whitechapel  abounds  in  a  maze  of  lanes  and 
alleys  and  a  hasty  glance  while  passing  through 
these  parts  and  Petticoat  Lane  at  once  reveals  to 
the  casual  pedestrian  the  condition  of  the  un- 
happy beings  immured  in  those  dreadful  lodgings, 
of  the  throng  of  wretched  creatures  pent  up  with- 
in its  foul  reeking  squalid  lairs,  of  large  families 
living  in  the  back  of  a  damp  basement  while  the 
front  part  is  utilized  for  a  shop  such  as  a  but- 
chers or  green-grocers  or  a  cook-shop  where  fish 
is  constantly  fried  from  early  morning  until  late 
at  night,  and  sold  to  the  poor  who  can  afford  a 
penny-worth  or  two  of  this  delicacy  to  accompany 
their  daily  meal,  consisting  perhaps  merely  of 
coarse  rye  bread,  and  black  turnip-like  radishes. 

It  was  Friday  morning,  a  cold  withering  wind 
blew ;  the  narrow  street  on  both  sides  had  been 
blocked  since  an  early  hour  with  street  barrows, 
whose  vendors  were  displaying  their  wares. 
Some  displayed  potatoes  and  black  radishes, 
others  dried  cake  and  broken  biscuits  by  the 
pound,  some  were  piled  up  with  all  sorts  of  bits 
of  moat,  no  doubt  intended  for  soups  and  stews  ; 
others  again  displayed  a  quantity  of  short  rem- 
nants of  ribbons  and  laces,  a  few  were  filled  with 
'small  fish  heaped  up  in  little  piles  sold  at  so  much 
a  mess  j  one  devoted  to  poultry  was  presided  over 


42  gelta:  or, 

by  an  old  Russian  woman,  who  was  selling  three- 
year-old,  for  spring  chickens,  and  who  kept  offer- 
ing her  soul  as  a  wager,  that  her  fowls  were  as 
tender  as  butter. 

In  the  narrow  space  intended  as  the  road  was  a 
crowd  of  Jewish  women,  coming  and  going,  some 
with  clean  faces  and  smoothly  brushed  hair,  but 
the  majority  of  them  looking  as  if  water  had  not 
touched  their  faces  for  a  month.  They  were  all 
walking  along,  swinging  their  empty  baskets  in 
their  right  hand,  most  of  them  having  an  infant 
in  their  left  arm,  and  perhaps  several  older  ones 
tucking  away  at  their  skirts,  they  all  seemed  to 
walk  with  their  heads  unconsciously  thrown  back, 
in  an  attitude  of  pride  and  hauteur.  One  would 
hardly  imagine  they  had  come  to  provide  food  for 
a  very  large  family  for  several  days  with  only  a 
few  shillings  to  face  the  outlays,  which  perforce 
compelled  them  to  stand  about  and  barter,  and 
bargain,  for  a  penny  or  two,  or  to  walk  a  con- 
siderable distance  through  the  different  lanes  and 
alleys,  in  search  of  the  required  article,  and  there- 
by save  a  halfpenny.  Rather  might  one  infer, 
from  their  martial  bearing,  that  they  were  going 
to  deliver  Jerusalem,  and  proclaim  themselves  its 
conquerors. 

Gelta  had  determined  not  to  leave  London 
without  again  visiting  the  East  End  where  all 
the  poor  helpless  Russian  Jews  congregated 
although  she  felt  that  pecuniarily  she  could  offer 
them  little  or  nothing ;  for  her  mother  before  her 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATBICE.       43 

death  had  arranged  that  Gelta  should  touch  only 
a  very  small  sum  of  her  income  until  she  had 
reached  her  thirtieth  year,  though  this  with  the 
handsome  salary  she  earned  amply  sufficed  for 
her  current  expenses.  The  mother  knew  her 
daughter's  generous  weakness  for  giving  to  those 
in  distress,  without  considering  whether  she  was 
depriving  herself  or  not.  But  Gelta  felt  that  if 
she  could  only  give  them  her  heart's  sympathy, 
even  that  was  better  than  nothing,  so  she  went. 
She  chose  a  Friday  morning,  to  see  those  sorely 
tried  women  do  their  Shabbas  marketing. 

It  was  about  half  past  eleven,  when  Gelta  found 
herself  hemmed  in,  in  the  centre  of  Petticoat  Lane 
by  a  crowd  of  these  poor  Russian  Jews.  As  most 
of  them  spoke  a  debased  sort  of  German  she  could 
easily  understand  all  they  said.  She  had  been 
walking  about  there  for  over  an  hour ;  the  dread- 
ful odors  emanating  from  the  meats,  fish,  decayed 
vegetables,  and  the  awful  drains  of  the  locality, 
had  made  a  nauseating  sickness  come  over  her,  and 
she  laughed  at  herself,  as  she  mentally  thought 
that  though  she  had  crossed  the  Adriatic,  and  the 
Mediterranean  Seas  and  the  Atlantic  Ocean, 
several  times,  she  had  never  felt  so  sick  until  this 
morning  after  her  arrival  at  "Whitechapel.  Then 
she  mentally  asked  herself  how  these  poor  people 
who  lived  there  all  the  time  could  endure  it, 
especially  as  she  observed  that  the  majority  of  the 
children  and  young  girls  were  in  robust  health, 
and  notwithstanding  their  squalid  surroundings 


44  gelta:  or, 

and  dirty  and  neglected  appearance,  were  beauti- 
ful to  behold.  Of  one  thing  Gelta  felt  in- 
stinctively convinced,  that  they  were  independent 
of  their  surroundings,  and  could  be  lifted  out  of 
them  as  it  were.  All  the  sordid  littleness  of  their 
low-born  lives  would  drop  from  them,  like  a  cloak, 
without  leaving  even  their  memory  to  drag  them 
down,  from  the  new  sphere,  in  which  they  might 
bo  placed.  It  is  that  touch  of  race,  that  gleam  of 
the  Orient,  that  potential  refinement,  as  impossi- 
ble to  describe,  as  it  is  to  deny,  which  distin- 
guishes the  Jewish  race,  all  the  world  over,  and 
surrounds  the  lowest,  and  most  uneducated,  with 
a  glamor  of  romance. 

At  one  corner  of  the  lane  leaning  over  a  barrow, 
stood  what  might  have  been  a  Kabbi ;  he  peddled 
fish — cod,  halibut,  white  -  fish  and  smelts  ;  all 
frozen  stiff.  His  high  forehead,  his  wise  wrinkled 
face  and  his  long,  grey  beard  gave  him  a  patri- 
archal air.  There  was  a  patriarchal  air  about 
the  fish  too. 

The  good  wife,  whose  eyes  peered  out  of  a  mass 
of  pink  and  white  woolen  wrappings,  stood  purse 
in  hand  and  basket  open,  watching  him  weigh  a 
fish. 

"  Three  pounds,"  he  said,  in  the  jargon,  "  that'll 
be  one  and  three-pence." 

Without  a  smile  or  a  frown,  without  a  twinkle 
or  a  tremor,  she  drew  from  her  purse  a  six-pence 
and  held  it  up  to  his  eyes.  Panic  was  written  on 
his  face. 


THE  CZAB  AND  THE  CANTATRICE.  45 

"  My  dear  woman,  my  dear,  dear,  dear,  woman, 
how  can  I?  "Would  you  have  my  wife  starve  and 
my  young  ones  go  hungry?  Starvation — there, 
take  the  fish.     It's  yours,  one  and  two-pence.' 

She  shook  her  head,  closed  the  basket,  pocketed 
the  purse  and  turned  away — one  step. 

"I'll  give  seven-pence,  not  a  penny  more.  In 
Whitechapel  they  only  charge  " — 

"  God  has  abandoned  me."  Ruin  was  depicted 
upon  his  countenance — hopeless,  starving,  suffer- 
ing, ruin.  "  The  fish  is  yours,  one  and  a  penny 
and  may  Jehovah  take  pity  on  my  wife  and  chil- 
dren."  * 

She  picked  up  the  fish,  pinched  it,  rubbed  it, 
sniffed  at  it,  and  laid  it  upon  the  scale  again. 
Then  she  opened  her  basket,  drew  out  her  purse 
and  counted  into  the  palm  of  her  hand  seven- 
pence  half-penny.  These  without  a  word,  she  held 
out  to  him. 

"  Seven-pence  half-penny,"  he  shrieked,  "  Would 
you  ruin  me  ?  I  swear  that  it  cost  me  a  shil- 
ling." 

With  a  snap  the  purse  closed;  the  lid  of  the 
basket  was  jammed  tight,  and  she  walked  off.  He 
seized  the  fish  by  the  tail  and  followed  her.  For 
nearly  half  a  block  he  pushed,  struggled,  elbowed 
and  zig-zagged  through  the  throngs  of  marketers, 
keeping  his  patriarchal  eyes  upon  her.  She  spied 
another  fish-stand  ;  he  also  spied  it,  and,  what  was 
more,  spied  that  she  had  spied  it.  In  a  twinkling 
he  was  beside  her,  the  basket  cover  was  flung 


46  gelta:  or, 

open,  the  fish  was  dropped  unceremoniously  in- 
side and — 

"  Seven-pence  half-penny,  but  God  help  my  wife 
and  children." 

It  was  almost  noon  yet  the  lanes  seemed  as 
densely  crowded  with  these  women  as  ever.  Some 
of  the  women  had  completed  their  marketing,  and 
were  returning  home  with  their  heavy  loads, 
others  had  just  arrived  and  were  disappointed  at 
the  different  remnants  of  inferior  wares  which 
the  street  barrows  displayed.  Those  poor  women 
who  could  not  afford  a  mess  of  six-penny  fish,  went 
into  some  of  the  shops,  and  bought  for  two-pence 
a  dozen  herrings  ;  which  were  kept  in  large  kegs 
of  brine  ;  these  with  a  few  potatoes  served  as  their 
daily  meals.  Yet  they  all  seemed  cheerful  and 
chatty,  during  these  marketing  expeditions,  for 
they  met  their  friends  and  neighbors,  and  ex^ 
changed  the  week's  budget  of  gossip ;  and  also  ex- 
tended and  accepted  the  invitations  to  visit  each 
other  on  the  morrow,  which  was  their  Sabbath. 
Gelta  overheard  all  they  spoke  of,  as  she  quietly 
every  now  and  then,  moved  on  after  having  paused 
to  observe  some  of  the  curb-stone  merchants' 
methods  of  attracting  customers,  or  to  gaze  pity- 
ingly on  some  poor  peddler,  and  slip  a  shilling  into 
his  hand,  while  he  stared  at  her  with  a  blank  grati- 
tude. She  had  now  stopped  near  the  poultry 
woman,  who  had  a  few  fowls  left,  and  in  order  to 
dispose  of  them  was  still  offering  up  her  soul  as  a 
wager  that  they  were  as  tender  as  butter.    After 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  OANTATRIOE.  47 

having  watched  and  listened  some  little  time,  Gelta 
spoke  to  the  woman  in  German,  asking  her  why 
she  offered  that  convenient  chattel  her  soul  ?  to 
which  the  old  woman  confidingly  replied,  after  hav- 
icg  thoroughly  scrutinized  her,  and  justly  conclud- 
ed that  Gelta  would  never  be  one  of  her  customers, 
that  "  she  usually  offered  her  soul,  because  if  she 
lost  it,  it  would  not  be  tangible."  Gelta  smiled 
at  the  old  woman's  cupidity  and  wit  and  walked 
on !  As  she  was  sauntering  along  looking  at  the 
wares  in  the  small  dingy  shops ;  and  watching  the 
animated  scene  surrounded  by  so  much  filth,  rub- 
bish, and  sordid  talk,  she  thought  how  no  one 
but  an  Israelite,  could  understand,  what  an  inner,  a 
nobler  life  those  same  people  led,  during  their 
many  holidays,  and  the  Sabbath.  Upon  those 
days,  they  became  refined,  and  more  subdued  in 
their  manners  and  speech. 

To  see  these  same  grasping  avaricious  mer- 
chants, and  those  howling,  bargaining  buyers, 
whilst  their  traffic  was  going  on,  hurling  all  sorts 
of  epithets  at  each  other  in  order  to  gain  their 
ends  ;  and  then  to  see  these  self- same  people  in 
Schule  (Synagogue)  or  while  visiting  each  other ; 
with  that  quiet  almost  dignified  bearing,  discuss- 
ing the  Jewish  situation  of  the  nineteenth  cen- 
tury, and  showering  innumerable  blessings  upon 
the  head  of  the  truly  noble  and  generous  Israel- 
ites, who  made  such  strenuous  efforts  to  ameliorate 
the  present  conditions  of  the  poor  persecuted 
Jews ;  and  to  notice  how  each  of  these  families 


48  gelta:  or, 

always  Had  at  their  table  a  few  guests,  who  could 
not  even  afford  to  pay  for  a  solid  meal,  was  to 
store  up  materials  for  grave  reflection. 

It  was  the  poor  feeding  the  poor.  And  at  such 
times  their  squalid  surroundings  seemed  to  take 
on  a  sort  of  halo  for  peace  and  rest,  reigned  every- 
where, during  those  strictly  kept  holidays. 

Whilst  Gelta  was  mentally  seeing  their  holiday 
home  life,  and  comparing  it  with  their  daily 
struggle,  she  noticed  sitting  with  bowed  head  at 
one  corner  of  a  maze  of  lanes,  an  old  venerable- 
looking  man,  who  had  a  lot  of  religious  mo- 
mentoes  for  sale,  such  as  Mezizas  (door  post 
charms),  Tephillin  (phylacteries),  Tzitzes  (fringes, 
little  prayer-books,  etc.) 

This  old  Hebrew,  in  his  well-worn  satin  kaftan, 
was  a  striking  and  even  imposing  figure,  though 
of  medium  height.  He  had  that  bearing  of  dig- 
nity, which  made  him  look  taller  than  he  really 
was.  He  had  a  wonderful  white  beard,  a  massive 
forehead  and  a  pair  of  very  vivid  black  eyes ;  his 
face,  on  the  whole,  denoted  nobility  of  character, 
coupled  with  a  sad  uncomplaining  expression, 
that  was  really  touching  to  behold.  He  was  sit- 
ting with  bowed  head,  a  far-away  dreamy  look  in 
his  eyes ;  when  a  couple  of  common-looking  girls 
who  seemed  to  be  returning  to  their  work, 
emerged  from  one  of  the  dark  alleys  into  the  lane, 
and  caught  sight  of  the  old  Jew;  they  at  once 
began  hurling  all  sorts  of  epithets  at  him,  accom- 
panied by  pantomimic  gestures  in  derision  of  his 


'1HE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATBICE.  49 

race.  Gelta  watched  their  savage  antics ;  with 
compassionate  pity  for  their  ignorant  conduct, 
and  as  she  looked  at  the  patriarchal  face  of  the 
old  man  upon  which  was  depicted  sad  resignation 
she  thought  of  those  beautiful  lines  of  Lowell's : 

*'  One  faith  against  the  whole  earth's  unbelief, 
One  soul  against  the  flesh  of  all  mankind." 

She  went  up  and  priced  some  of  his  different 
articles  and  engaged  in  a  prolonged  conversation, 
chatting  all  the  while  so  as  to  induce  him  to 
speak  of  himself  and  his  past.  She  eventually 
persuaded  him  into  a  confiding  humor,  and  he 
told  her  he  had  been  a  Eabbi  for  thirty  years  in 
one  of  the  small  Russian  provinces,  and  that  he 
had  been  compelled  to  contribute  for  years  a  cer- 
tain amount  of  money  to  the  master  of  police, 
and  other  government  officials,  in  order  that  he 
and  his  community  should  be  allowed  to  exist  in 
peace  in  their  little  town. 

"Why  did  you  not  make  a  complaint  to  the 
Czar?"  Gelta  asked. 

The  poor  man  shook  his  head  sadly  as  he  re- 
plied to  her  naive  question.  "  Russia  is  not  like 
this  grand  free  country  where  the  poorest,  the 
humblest  individual  can  have  his  wrongs  brought 
to  the  notice  of  those,  who  love  truth  and  justice, 
by  simply  acquainting  any  of  the  daily  papers 
with  his  sufferings.  There  is  no  press  there,  ex- 
cept that  presided  over  by  the  government 
Censor,  who  allows  to  appear  in  print  only  the 
dictations  of  the  grasping  officials.     It  would  be 


50  gelta:  ob, 

useless  to  complain.  It  would  also  be  useless  to 
write  to  the  Czar  acquainting  him  with  the  tyrany 
exercised  over  his  subjects  by  those  whom  he  has 
invested  with  a  little  brief  authority ;  for  the 
complaint  would  have  to  pass  through  the  hands 
of  the  master  of  police,  and  the  very  officers  who 
with  all  sorts  of  threats  of  the  knout  and  Siberia 
made  us  deliver  over  to  them  the  little  money 
which  we  very  often  required  for  the  necessaries 
of  life,  until  within  the  last  few  years  we  had  not 
even  that ;  whereupon  they  became  so  angered 
that  others  and  myself  had  to  make  our  escape  on 
foot  for  a  considerable  distance  in  order  to  avoid 

their  fury.   When  we  came  to  the  town  of  Od 

we  heard  that  the  great  nobleman,  the  Baron  de 
Hirsch  (may  he  be  forever  blessed.  Amen.) 
And  then  the  old  Hebrew  bowed  his  head  for  a 
moment  as  if  invoking  a  silent  prayer,  upon  his 
generous  deliverer,  whilst  Gelta  echoed  mentally 
his  Amen !     He  continued : 

"  The  good  jBaron  de  Hirsch  haa  agents  there 
to  provide  us  with  a  little  money  and  transporta- 
tion to  this  good  country,  ana  another  great  land 
beyond  the  seas." 

"  Ycu  mean  America,"  Gelta  interposed. 

"Yes,  that's  it,"  he  answered,  "but  I  am 
seventy-eight  years  old,  and  as  I  have  not  long  to 
remain  on  this  globe  of  weary  wanderings,  I  did 
not  wish  to  travel  so  far,  for  I  want  to  be  as  near 
to  Palestine  as  possible  before  I  die,  and  here  I 
am." 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATEICE.  51 

Gelta  was  deeply  touched  at  the  heart's  desire 
of  this  poor  lonely  son  of  Israel. 

After  a  few  moments  had  elapsed  during  which 
Gelta  was  examining  various  articles  on  his  bar- 
row, in  order  to  hide  her  emotion,  she  resumed— 
"Educated  as  you  are  in  Hebrew,  do  you  not 
often  feel  sick  at  heart  at  the  degradation,  of 
having  in  your  old  age  to  sit  amid  this  foul  atmos- 
phere, and  humbly  submit  to  the  insults,  of  such 
ignorant  creatures,  as  those  who  only  a  few 
moments  ago,  singled  you  out  as  the  butt  for 
their  jests  ?  " 

"My  dear  child,"  he  interposed,  "the  petty 
troubles  of  life  are  like  the  tickings  of  a  clock, 
unheard,  when  unheeded,  but  when  heeded,  beat- 
ing like  a  sledge  hammer  upon  the  brain." 

"  Yes,"  she  quickly  added,  "  it  is  all  very  well  if 
we  can  shut  out  the  ticking  of  the  clock,  but  one 
has  not  always  the  power  to  do  so,  and  to  a 
sensitive  nature  like  yours,  to  be  placed  con- 
stantly amid  misery  and  want  must  surely  be  a 
humiliation." 

"No,"  he  majestically  answered  witn  a  resigned 
demeanour  and  quoted  a  few  stanzas  in  Hebrew 
which  ran  thus : 

M  Why  should  I  blush  that  Fortune's  frown, 
Dooms  me  life's  humble  path  to  tread, 
To  live  unheeded  and  unknown, 
To  sink  forgotten  with  the  dead? 
Tis  not  the  good,  the  wise,  the  brave, 
That  surest  shine,  or  highest  rise, 
The  feather  sports  upon  the  wave, 
The  pearl  in  ocean's  cavern  lies." 


52  GELTA  :  OK, 

Gelta  with  suppressed  emotion  gazed  at  this 
noble  old  man,  whose  life  had  known  so  little 
sunshine,  yet  who  accepted  all  the  ills  of  fate  with 
so  much  calmness  and  uncomplaining  resignation ; 
she  felt  too  much  moved  to  listen  longer  to  his 
noble  thoughts,  environed  by  such  squallor ;  she 
selected  several  small  articles  of  the  value  of  a 
couple  of  shillings  and  tendered  him  a  sovereign 
requesting  him  at  the  same  time  to  keep  the 
change.  He  hesitated,  and  then  refused ;  unless 
she  took  goods  to  the  full  amount,  but  Gelta  in- 
sisted, and  at  last  he  consented  to  do  so  on  condi- 
tion that  he  should  give  part  of  it  to  several  of  his 
friends,  who  had  more  to  provide  for,  and  less 
opportunity  of  gaining  their  living. 

Gelta  told  him  to  do  what  he  though;:  best,  and 
departed  while  he  kept  murmuring  blessings  after 
her. 

It  was  now  one  o'clock  and  as  Gelta  had  spent 
several  hours  in  those  dreadful  lanes,  she  felt 
quite  sick  from  their  nauseating  odors,  and  de- 
termined to  make  her  escape  at  once ;  she  cut 
through  several  little  cross  streets  in  order  to 
reach  Bishopsgate  street  sooner,  when  she  stopped 
for  a  moment  attracted  by  the  cries  of  a  little  boy, 
about  six  years  of  age,  very  thinly  clad,  who  was 
sitting  in  front  of  a  very  dilapidated  and  tumbled 
down  looking  wooden  house  ;  on  the  opposite  side. 
As  this  part  seemed  to  be  deserted  at  the  time, 
she  crossed  to  enquire  what  ailed  him,  since  with 
big  drowning  tears  rolling  down  his  cheeks  he 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRICE.       53 

whined  "  Wai !  wai ! "  After  a  few  moment's  coax- 
ing as  to  the  cause  of  his  grief  he  mumbled  in 
lachrymose  tones  "  hineric  "  (hungry).  Gelta  asked 
him  why  he  did  not  go  home,  and  get  something 
to  eat,  in  answer  to  which  he  pointed  into  the 
dingy  cellar  which  Gelta  had  not  noticed  was  in- 
habited, saying  "  mitter  hat  kein  brot "  (Mother  has 
no  bread). 

Gelta' s  eyes  followed  the  direction  indicated, 
meditating  whether  to  give  him  a  few  coppers  to 
buy  some  bread,  and  then  hasten  away  to  get 
some  fresh  air,  or  to  investigate  and  see  whether 
his  cries  were  genuine.  A  moment's  pause,  and 
her  decision  was  made.  She  decended  the  eight 
or  ten  rotting  stairs  and  stood  on  the  threshold 
looking  into  a  dark  room  about  ten  feet  by  twelve, 
which  seemed  to  be  the  living  and  sleeping  room  , 
for  at  the  further  end  was  a  bed  unmade  right 
over  which  on  the  once  whitewashed  wall,  nof* 
rendered  a  dingy  grey  through  humidity  anddirt4 
hung  a  cheap  print  of  Sir  Moses  Montefiore  ; 
opposite  the  bed  stood  a  wooden  cupboard  upon 
whose  upper  shelves  were  a  few  plates,  cups  and 
saucers  ;  the  lower  part  was  screened  off  by  the 
tattered  remains  of  a  checkered  curtain,  between 
the  bed  and  the  cupboard  there  was  a  rusty  un- 
fixed grate,  which  held  a  handful  of  cinders  that 
had  been  struggling  in  that  cheerless  room  for 
existence,  but  had  finally  succumbed,  and  now  lay 
dead  on  its  bosom  ;  a  wooden  table  to  the  left  of 
the  cupboard  leaning  painfully  against  the  wall 


64  gelta:  or, 

upon  its  three  legs,  the  fourth  was  missing ;  a 
couple  of  wooden  chairs  and  several  empty  soap 
boxes  seemed  to  complete  the  furnishing  of  this 
dreadful  abode.  Gelta  had  opened  the  half  glass 
door  which  served  both  as  the  window  and  door 
of  the  place,  she  stood  on  the  threshold  for  some 
moments  peering  into  the  room,  a  ray  of  sickly 
light  seemed  struggling  for  existence  there,  and 
lingered  upon  a  woman  of  about  forty  years  of 
age,  who  sat  upon  a  wooden  box  with  bowed  head 
and  stockinged  feet,  a  baby  of  several  months  old 
was  in  her  arms  and  tugging  away  with  its  mouth 
at  her  breast,  which  seemed  withered  like  a 
woman's  of  eighty  years  old  ;  every  now  and  then 
the  child  would  take  a  tug  or  two  at  the  breast, 
and  then  would  whine,  as  if  not  getting  the  re- 
quired nourishment ;  the  woman  never  moved  as 
she  sat  bowed  in  her  grief,  she  looked  the  image 
of  the  despairing  "  Niobe."  Gelta  spoke  several 
times,  but  the  woman  never  stirred,  until  two  little 
dark  curly  heads  peeped  out  from  underneath  the 
feather  bed,  where  they  had  lain  no  doubt  to 
keep  warm. 

On  perceiving  the  strange  lady,  the  elder,  a 
little  girl  of  about  three  years  of  age,  called  her 
parent's  attention  to  the  stranger,  the  wretched 
woman  was  recalled  from  her  reverie  to  the 
urgent  misery  that  surrounded  her.  She  lifted 
up  her  pale  grief-stricken  face,  which  told  its  own 
tale,  and  looked  towards  the  door. 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRICE.       55 

Gelta  addressed  her  for  the  third  time  telling 
her  the  little  boy  was  hungry,  and  crying. 

"  What  can  I  do  ?  "  the  woman  moaned,  help- 
lessly, "  I  have  no  money  or  bread,  and  yesterday 
my  poor  dead  husband  was  carried  out  of  here. 
You  see  I  am  sitting  '  Shiva '  "  (a  form  of  Jewish 
mourning,  which  the  nearest  relatives  observe,  by 
never  leaving  their  sleeping  room  for  a  period  of 
eight  days  and  in  their  stocking  feet  sitting  about 
and  taking  their  food  upon  a  low  stool  or  wooden 
box,  and  praying  frequently  for  the  soul  of  the 
dead.) 

"  Does  no  one  know  of  your  urgent  distress  ?  " 
Gelta  asked,  anxiously. 

"  Eh,  yes, "  the  poor  woman  replied,  "  our  Eabbi 
has  notified  the  charity  committee,  they  said  they 
would  be  round  as  soon  as  possible  to  assist  us, 
of  course  they  have  already  helped  me  somewhat, 
but  all  went  in  nursing  my  poor  husband.  "  And 
here  the  wretched  woman  wept  bitterly,  as  she 
continued  through  her  sobs,  "he  lingered  for 
three  months  in  this  bed,  and  we  were  so  hopeful 
of  saving  him. " 

"  No  wonder  he  died, "  Gelta  thought,  as  she 
sadly  looked  about  her.  The  poor  woman  went 
on  with  her  story,  "  my  husband  was  a  tailor  and 
worked  very  hard  to  keep  us  all,  and  we  were  so 
contented  to  wait,  and  hope  for  better  times, 
when  my  poor  Isaac  fell  sick  five  months  ago,  and 
the  doctor  said  it  was  consumption,  and  that  he 
must  have  rest,  and  good  nourishment,  so  I  made 


56  gelta:  ob, 

him  stay  at  home ;  and  I  went  out  and  helped  in 
the  families,  with  their  washing  and  scrubbing, 
and  with  what  I  earned,  and  with  what  the 
different  ladies  gave  me,  we  were  able  to  get 
along ;  and  I  was  hoping  that  my  good  Isaac 
would  soon  get  well,  when  he  got  pneumonia  two 
weeks  ago  and  he  never  lived  through  it. " 

Gelta  listened  and  the  poor  woman  continued. 
"  My  neighbors,  God  bless  them,  have  been  very 
kind  to  me  but  they  all  have  such  a  hard  time  to 
get  along  themselves,  one  poor  old  lady  brought 
in  this  morning  a  pot  of  tea  and  half  a  loaf  of 
bread,  I  did  not  touch  it,  but  gave  it  to  the  chil- 
dren and  they  ate  every  bit,  and  still  cried  for 
more,  I  don't  know  what  ails  them,"  she  wailed 
with  irritation  in  her  voice,  "  they  never  seem  to 
get  enough." 

"  No  wonder, "  Gelta  thought  when  so  little  is 
offered  the  poor  starved  mites. 

"  I  shiver  very  much,"  continued  the  woman. 
"  It's  a  cold  day.  Pray  shut  the  door."  Gelta 
had  left  the  door  open  to  give  some  ventilation  to 
the  place. 

"You  are  ill,  "  Gelta  said,  moving  to  the  side  of 
the  woman.  "  Give  me  your  hand,  "  she  added  in 
a  soft  sweet  tone,  "  'Tis  hot !  " 

"  I  feel  very  cold,"  replied  the  woman. 

"Because  you  have  no  fire,"  Gelta  answered 
"  but  we  will  soon  remedy  that,"  and  taking  the 
little  boy  by  the  hand,  she  asked,  "  what  is  your 
name  dear?" 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRICE.       57 

"Moscher  Silberwasser,"  he  answered. 

"Moscher,"  she  smilingly  repeated,  "well  he 
was  a  great  general  who  guided  the  Jews  from 
Egypt,  for  over  forty  long  years,  over  mountain 
tops,  and  deserts,  until  he  led  them  safely  into  the 
land  of  plenty,  so  you,  like  your  name-sake  must 
guide  me  to  the  shops  where  we  will  buy  for 
mamma  a  lot  of  nice  things  to  eat  and  drink  ;  and 
taking  Moscher  by  the  hand  and  telling  Mrs. 
Silberwasser  that  she  would  soon  return  she  de- 
parted on  her  errand  of  mercy. 

The  first  thing  Gelta  did  was  to  order  a  couple 
of  sacks  of  coal  to  be  delivered  immediately ;  she 
bought  a  kettle  at  the  next  door  shop  and  handed 
it  to  the  man  that  was  to  deliver  the  coal  with  the 
instruction  that  he  should  light  the  fire  and  put 
the  kettle  with  the  water  on  to  boil  and  that  if  he 
would  do  so  quickly,  upon  her  return  she  would 
give  him  a  couple  of  shillings  for  himself.  He 
willingly  consented,  and  then  Gelta  cut  through 
Bishopsgate  street  and  entered  a  large  grocer's. 
Meanwhile  Moscher  was  busily  engaged  in  alter- 
nately munching  a  large  sugared  bun,  and  an 
apple,  and  casting  grateful  looks  at  his  benefac- 
tress. After  having  expended  a  couple  of  pounds, 
for  groceries,  not  omitting  certain  delicacies  such 
as  jams,  biscuits,  a  couple  of  bottles  of  good  wine 
and  a  bottle  of  the  best  brandy,  she  gave  orders 
that  they  should  be  immediatly  delivered,  and 
then  departed.  When  they  reached  Mrs.  Silber- 
wasser's  abode,  Moscher  was  helping  to  carry  a 


58  gelta:  or, 

large  parcel  containing  a  little  sailor  suit  for  him- 
self, together  with  a  dozen  pairs  of  warm  stock- 
ings of  different  sizes,  a  pair  of  shoes  and  some 
warm  underwear  for  his  mother,  and  sisters. 

"When  Gelta  entered  the  place  again  a  cheerful 
fire  was  blazing  away,  and  the  table  was  groaning 
beneath  the  weight  of  groceries  which  had  been 
delivered.  The  charcoal  man  stood  gazing  in  lost 
amazement ;  at  the  wine  and  delicacies  displayed  ; 
and  was  speculating  whether  Gelta  belonged  to 
the  great  family  of  Rothschild  the  bankers.  She 
soon  interrupted  his  meditations  by  sending  him 
to  a  Jewish  restaurant  to  get  a  couple  of  roast 
fowls,  then  Gelta  made  Mrs.  Silberwasser  partake 
of  a  large  cup  of  hot  punch  and  some  biscuits, 
to  counteract  the  chill. 

"You  are  an  angel  from  heaven!"  exclaimed 
the  poor  widow. 

"No,  not  from  heaven,"  Gelta  replied  sadly, 
"  only  a  poor  wanderer  on  earth,  who  tries  to 
walk  in  the  path  that  leads  to  heaven,"  and  then 
she  busied  herself  stowing  the  different  groceries, 
etc.,  into  the  cupboard,  relieving  the  table  once 
more  of  its  burden.  Then  she  brewed  some 
delicious  tea. 

The  charcoal  man  soon  returned  with  a  couple 
of  nice  roast  fowls,  he  had  also  stopped  at  several 
of  the  neighbors  to  tell  them  how  this  strange, 
beautiful  lady  had  suddenly  dropped  in  to  see 
Mrs.  Silberwasser,  and  how  she  scattered  money 
to  right  and  left,  which  accounted  for  a  couple  of 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRIOE.  59 

middle  aged,  and  a  very  old  woman  coming  to 
call  on  the  poor  widow  almost  simultaneously  as 
the  man  entered.  Gelta  asked  him  to  look  in 
during  the  week  to  see  whether  he  could  be  of 
service  to  the  poor  helpless  woman,  who,  during 
the  allotted  period  of  her  "Shiva"  could  not 
leave  the  room ;  then  she  paid  and  dismissed 
him.  Gelta  cut  up  a  fowl  and  made  the  children 
sit  down  at  the  table  and  eat  to  their  heart's  con- 
tent, while  she  helped  the  poor  mother  to  some, 
and  a  cup  of  tea ;  the  three  women  stood  in  a 
corner  gazing  at  her  in  silent  admiration  to  see 
this  beautiful  young  lady,  with  delicate,  small 
white  hands,  whose  fingers  were  covered  with 
precious  rings,  cut  into  the  coarse  bread,  and  help 
the  children  to  meat  and  tea,  as  if  she  had  been 
used  to  that  kind  of  work  all  her  life.  The  cheer- 
ful fire  had  lit  up  the  dingy  place,  the  tea  was 
drunk,  the  meal  partaken  of,  an  air  of  comfort, 
even  of  enjoyment,  was  diffused  over  this  chamber 
which,  but  an  hour  back,  was  so  desolate  and  un- 
happy. Gelta  in  a  sweet  low  voice  asked  the 
women  to  leave  her  with  Mrs.  Silberwasser  alone 
for  a  few  moments,  they  at  once  retired  to  the 
street.  Then  she  turned  to  the  widow  with 
cheering  words,  reminding  her  that  God  forsakes 
no  one  who  lifts  a  sorrowing  heart  to  Him,  and 
she  gave  the  sorrowing  woman  three  pounds  in 
gold  wrapped  up  in  one  of  her  dainty  little  hand- 
kerchiefs, advising  her  to  hide  it,  and  not  to  let 
her  neighbors  know  of  the  money,  then  she  kissed 


60  gelta:  or, 

and  received  kisses  from  the  laughing  little  ones, 
and  pressing  the  widow's  hand,  which  was  not 
released  from  the  poor  woman's  grasp  until  it 
had  received  a  grateful  kiss  accompanied  by  many 
tears  she  departed. 

Gelta  soon  found  herself  outside,  and  after  say- 
ing a  few  kind  words  to  the  group  of  women  whom 
she  had  but  a  few  moments  before  asked  to  leave 
the  room,  she  placed  half  a  sovereign  in  the  old 
woman's  hand  and  enjoined  her  not  to  neglect  the 
lonely  widow  and  orphans ;  then  she  hurried 
away  while  the  women  gazed  after  her  retreating 
form  murmuring  all  sorts  of  blessings. 

Gelta  had  been  walking  for  several  minutes, 
turning  in  and  out  of  some  of  the  little  courts, 
when  she  became  aware  of  the  presence  of  a  little 
form,  that  had  been  silently  following  her ;  she 
stopped  short,  for  it  waa  little  Moscher  Silber- 
wasser. 

""What  are  you  doing  here?"  Gelta  asked 
quickly. 

He  blushed  and  became  confused,  fearing  that 
he  had  angered  her,  but  the  kindness  of  her  voice 
as  she  softly  asked  him  again,  what  he  wanted, 
gave  him  courage  to  speak,  for  he  managed  to  say 
(t  Mutter  said  I  should  run  after  and  kiss  you !  " 

"  And  you  ?  "  she  queried,  as  she  bent  down  not 
unmoved  to  caress  his  pretty  curls ;  "  and  you, 
Moscher,"  she  repeated,  "do  you  care  to  kiss 
me?" 

Without  replying    he  threw    his    dirty  little 


THE    CZAR   AND   THE    OANTATRICE.  61 

arms  around  her  neck  and  imprinted  several 
pretty  little  kisses  upon  her  cheek,  which  she  so 
invitingly  held  out  to  him. 

After  pressing  him  affectionately  to  her  bosom, 
she  gave  him  several  pennies,  and  made  him 
promise  that  he  would  return  home  to  his  mamma 
immediately,  and  be  a  very  good  boy,  and  so  they 
parted,  Gelta  looking  after  him  to  see  that  he 
took  the  right  direction. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

"My  dear  Senator!  said  Count  Boroffsky  to 
Senator  Stencer  the  morning  after  the  third  ap- 
pearance, of  Gelta  Dechon  at  the  Opera  Comique. 
"  What  a  superb  type  of  ideal  womanhood  this 
American  girl  of  yours  is !  Ah !  you  ought  to 
feel  proud  of  her  ?" 

The  two  men  were  breakfasting  in  the  Count's 
pretty  pavilion. 

"  So  I  do !  so  does  every  true-born  American, 
of  their  little  compatriot,  who  in  a  foreign  land, 
in  the  very  kingdom  of  Art,  is  one  of  the  very  few 
whose  talents  everyone  is  eager  to  acknowledge. 
What  a  magnetic  being  she  must  be  to  be  able  to 
chain  a  Parisian  public  to  her  chariot.  Ah !  if  I 
could  persuade  her  to  join  our  cause  ! " 

"Just  so,  I  sent  you  a  note,  this  morning,  only 
because  I  wished  to  see  you  most  particularly  be- 
fore you  went  to  the  American  Legation,  Affairs," 


62  gelta:  or, 

continued  Count  Boroffsky,  first  looking  cautiously 
around  the  room  to  see  whether  there  were  any 
listeners  to  his  state  secret,  "Affairs  are  critical ! " 

"  What !  have  we  been  betrayed  ?  " 

Boroffsky  slowly  shook  his  head.  "  No,  not 
betrayed,"  he  said,  "but  a  hasty  move  on  our 
chess  board  has  for  the  moment  stopped  our  plan. 
General  G is  dying." 

Senator  Stencer  leaned  back  in  his  chair  and 
delivered  himself  of  an  ejaculation. 

"  He  may  live  a  month,"  said  the  Count,  "  he 
cannot  live  two!  It  is  the  greatest  of  secrets; 
known  at  this  moment  only  to  the  heads  of  the 
Imperial  family,  and  myself ;  and  I  communicate 
it  to  you  my  dear  Senator,  in  that  absolute  con- 
fidence, which  I  fervently  hope  there  will  always 
be  between  us,  because  it  is  an  event,  that  may 
greatly  affect  your  career." 

"  How  so,  dear  Count  ?  " 

"  I  have  arranged,  that,  on  your  wife's  account, 
you  must  remain  for  the  present  neutral,  to  our 
cause,  and  take  no  part  at  any  rate  for  a  time,  in 
our  actions.  In  the  circumstances  which  we  must 
now  encounter  the  struggle  will  be  fraught  with 
greater  dangers,  and  be  more  severe  than  at  any 
previous  period,  therefore  in  anticipation  of  my 
death,  I  cannot  allow  the  natural  protector  of  my 
sister,  to  take  risks  which  might  leave  her  alone 
in  the  world  and  unprotected ! ' 

Senator  Stencer  silently  acquiesced  and  the 
Count  continued. 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRIOE.  63 

"  It  is  absolutely  necessary  for  a  follower  of  our 
cause  to  enter  Eussia,  to  restore  our  broken 
communications,  and  arrange  a  new  cypher! 
There  is  only  one  being  to-day,  who  could  cross 
the  Kussian  frontier,  journey  to  St.  Petersburg, 
and  move  in  the  highest  society,  without  creating 
the  slighest  suspicion,  and  that  one,  is,  a  most 
gifted  woman,  the  beautiful  Gelta  Dechon ! " 

"Dechon!  you  must  find  some  other  means  to 
carry  out  your  plans,  I  fear ;  my  dear  Count,  have 
I  not  for  the  last  six  months  made  every  effort,  to 
induce  her  to  join  us,  but  without  the  slightest 
success?'* 

"But,  my  dear  Senator,  we  must  not  relinquish 
the  hope  of  winning  this  gifted  girl;  why,  she 
would  be  simply  invaluable  to  us,  her  magnetism 
would  overpower  the  severest  of  diplomats,  and 
make  him  pour  out  all  his  State  secrets  to  her. 
Oh  yes !  she  must  be  won  over,  for  she  would  be- 
come a  very  valuable  instrument  to  our  noble 
cause;"  ne  added  almost  with  irritation,  "and  why 
should  she  not  join  us?  is  she  not  a  Jewess,  and 
possessed  of  all  the  Jewish  sympathies  and  warm 
heartedness,  and  is  she  not  keenly  alive  to  all  the 
oppression  and  cruelty,  heaped  upon  her  race  in 
the  accursed  domain  of  Eussia9" 

"Why  yes,  Count,  she  has  often  told  me  that 
her  heart  and  sympathies  are  undeniably  with  her 
oppressed  people,  but  at  present  she  cannot  dis- 
cern a  remedy  which  would  check  Eussian  tyr- 
anny, and  only  sees  that  all  attempts  to  do  so,  are 


64  gelta:  ob, 

futile,  but  stay!  I  have  an  idea.  "Why  not  try 
your  marvelous  hypnotic  powers  upon  her;  you 
know  that  I  have  always  placed  implicit  faith  in 
them;  and  you  say  yourself  that  you  have  the 
most  absolute  control  over  your  subjects,  I  feel 
convinced  that  if  you  really  endeavor  to  subdue 
this  girl's  will  to  yours,  you  will  succeed,  and  by 
so  doing,  accomplish  a  great  triumph  for  our 
sacred  cause." 

"True,  of  late  I  have  given  the  matter  serious 
thought,  but  her  indomitable  will  renders  my 
effort  powerless,  she  does  not  believe  in  hypnotic 
influences  and  only  laughs  at  my  theories.  How- 
ever, I  will  not  relinquish  my  efforts,  the  game  is 
well  worth  the  candle,  and  if  we  could  only  per- 
suade her  that  our  cause  is  not  hopeless,  I  am  sure 
she  would  render  us  immense  services.  She  ex- 
pects me  to  lunch  with  her  to-day  and  you,  my 
dear  Senator,  can  afterwards  bring  her  tidings  of 
how  proud  the  entire  American  colony  is  of  her 
last  night's  triumph." 

"Precisely,"  said  Senator  Stencer,  rising  and 
consulting  his  watch,  "  but  I  have  an  appointment 
with  the  American  Minister  concerning  that 
Silver  bill  at  eleven  o'clock,  and  I  must  be  off,  as 
I  have  only  a  quarter  of  an  hour  in  which  to  get 
there.  However,  I  will  not  fail  to  call  on  Miss 
Dechon  this  afternoon." 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRIOE.  65 


CHAPTEE  VIIL 

Ivan    Boroffsky,   the    father    of  the    present 
Count  had  been  appointed  Attorney  General  to 

the  town  of  O ,  one  of  the  largest  centres  of 

Southern  Kussia,  about  the  year  1840.  He  had 
been  a  widower  several  years,  and  had  never  been 
blessed  with  any  children.  He  was  no  longer  in 
his  first  youth,  but  it  was  easy  to  see  that  he  had 
been  a  very  handsome  man  with  an  elegant  figure. 
He  had  always  been  a  great  favorite  with  ladies, 
and  had  largely  availed  himself  of  this  advan- 
tage. He  had  the  reputation  of  being  an  un- 
commonly clever  man,  quite  above  the  usual 
average.  There  was  something  enigmatical  in 
the  turn  of  his  mind,  in  his  way  of  talking,  and 
in  his  intercourse  with  others.  Many  people 
deemed  that  he  never  said  what  he  thought,  and 
often  fancied  they  discovered  a  covert  meaning  in 
his  words.  But  in  spite  of  all  this,  he  could  not 
be  called  a  reserved  man,  on  the  contrary,  like 
most  eloquent  people,  he  took  an  easy  and  brilliant 
part  in  conversation,  and  never  affected  that 
studied  coldness,  with  which  mediocrity  often 
cover  its  defects.  Every  conversation  with  him 
left  a  deep  impression  on  the  mind  of  his  inter- 
locutors, which  it  was  not  easy  to  get  rid  of. 
Such  was  Ivan  Boroffsky  when  fate  first  brought 
him  to  the  town  of  0 ,  and  there  took  him  to 


66  gelta:  or, 

a  ball  at  the  Governor's  house,  where  he  saw  the 
only  child  and  heiress  of  a  wealthy  Jewish  mer- 
chant, the  pretty  Anna  Cohen,  who,  notwith- 
standing the  difference  of  religion  quickly  lost 
her  heart  to  him,  he  likewise  and  for  the  first 
time  during  his  varied  amours  experienced  the 
real  warmth  of  love.  Notwithstanding  the  im- 
mense obstacles  on  both  sides  to  be  conquered, 
he  at  once  set  about  with  determination  to 
make  her  the  future  Countess  Boroffsky.  Love 
triumphing,  in  due  time  they  were  married.  Anna 
Boroffsky  made  him  the  proud  and  happy  father 
of  two  pretty  children,  a  boy  and  a  girl.     After 

five  years  sojourn  in  O ,  Ivan  Boroffsky  was 

summoned  to  St.  Petersburg,  where  for  many 
years  he  held  a  high  place  in  the  official  world, 
receiving  numerous  honors  and  distinctions  from 
the  Czar.  His  wife  endowed  with  the  marvellous 
adaptability  of  her  race,  had  succeeded  through 
her  charming  personality  and  diplomatic  affability 
in  apparently  becoming  a  general  favorite  in  that 
brilliant  circle  of  St.  Petersburg,  and  many  an 
unfortunate  co-religionist,  owed  his  release  from 
the  tyrannical  punishments,  of  despotic  subor- 
dinate officials  to  the  subtle  influence  of  this 
noble  and  smypathetic  woman. 

Years  had  passed  when  young  Boroffsky  was 
suddenly  summoned  by  his  mother,  the  eve  be- 
fore he  was  to  pass  his  examination  in  surgery. 
He  arrived  home  only  to  lament  the  irreparable 
loss  of  his  father  who  had  that  morning  been 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRICE.  67 

struck  with  appoplexy.  After  the  first  outburst 
of  grief,  he  endeavored  to  render  what  solace  he 
could,  to  his  bereaved  mother,  and  sister. 

Scarcely  a  year  had  passed  since  the  death  of 
her  husband  when  poor  Anna  Boroffsky  began  to 
perceive  the  adder  stings  thrust  at  her  by  her 
former  friends,  they  could  never  in  their  hearts 
forgive  her  for  having  been  born  a  Jewess,  had 
she  not  been  the  recipient  of  their  homage  during 
her  husband's  lifetime !  But  now  that  he  was  no 
more,  this  polished  horde  of  Bussian  aristocracy, 
savagely  vented  its  poisonous  salaver  over  the 
unprotected  widow,  whose  husband  had  devoted 
and  often  risked  his  life  to  serve  faithfully  his 
master,  the  Czar. 

This  change  of  front  on  the  part  of  Society  to- 
wards poor  Anna  Boroffsky  and  her  two  grown 
children,  was  the  climax  of  her  misfortunes. 
However,  Madame  Boroffsky  decided  to  dispose 
of  some  of  her  estates,  in  order  to  go  to  Paris 
and  live  among  a  more  sympathetic  and  broader 
minded  set  of  people,  and  also  enable  her  son  to 
finish  his  studies  there.  But  poor,  unprotected 
Anna  was  doomed  never  to  quit  St.  Petersburg, 
for  when  Society  heard  that  it  was  about  to  lose 
its  prey,  with  the  determination  of  a  fury  it  set 
all  sorts  of  calumnious  reports  in  vogue,  until 
one  morning  she  was  summoned  by  order  of  the 
Czar,  as  being  connected  with  a  nihilistic  plot  to 
assassinate  the  imperial  family.  The  wretched 
woman  upon  hearing  the  accusation,  knew  that 


68  gelta:  or, 

she  was  doomed  to  the  most  horrible,  and  degrad- 
ing, of  deaths.  She  begged  leave  of  the  officer  to 
be  allowed  to  change  her  robe  de  chambre  for  a 
walking  costume,  and  upon  being  granted  per- 
mission, she  retired,  and  with  the  resignation,  and 
fortitude,  of  her  race,  she  hastily  penned  a  few 
lines  of  adieus  to  her  children  who  were  at  the 
time  superintending  some  family  matters  upon 
one  of  her  country  estates,  imploring  them  to 
leave  Eussia  as  soon  as  they  could  possibly  do  so. 
And  having  added  blessings  and  hopes  that  they 
would  all  meet  hereafter  in  heaven,  she  entrusted 
the  note  to  a  faithful  old  servant,  then  she  entered 
the  cabinet  of  her  beloved  son,  and  with  a  fer- 
vent prayer  for  her  children's  welfare,  took  a 
powerful  drug,  staggered  back  into  the  reception 
room,  and  fell  dead  at  tho  commissary's  feet. 

The  officer,  cursing  himself  for  having  allowed 
his  victim  for  a  few  brief  minutes  out  of  his  sight, 
and  fearing  that  his  own  head  would  now  fall  if 
the  truth  were  known,  officially  declared,  that  as 
soon  as  he  had  made  known  the  object  of  his  visit, 
the  lady  fell  dead  at  his  feet,  struck  by  heart  dis- 
ease That  was  why  Count  Boroffsky  joined  the 
Nihilists. 


Count  Boroffsky  was  the  chief  agent  in  Paris 
who  helped  to  complete  the  plot  of  getting  Czar 
Alexander  2nd's  sojourn  terminated  on  this  planet. 
It  was  in  his  power  to  have  stayed  the  dangerous 
hand,  for  he  was  in  direct  correspondence  with 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRIOE.  69 

some  of  the  members  of  the  imperial  household, 
but,  he  asked  himself,  why  should  he  stay  the 
fatal  bomb?  Why  should  anyone,  who  is  interested 
in  the  welfare,  and  progress  of  humanity,  desire 
the  existence  of  an  Alexander  the  Second?  who 
during  his  whole  reign  from  1855  to  1881,  the 
time  of  his  assassination,  though  not  such  a  blood- 
thirsty and  relentless  torturer  as  his  father 
Nicholas  I,  still  proved  himself  a  grasping  bold 
oppressor  of  his  helpless  subjects. 

Without  an  atom  of  compunction,  Count 
Boroffsky  dedicated  the  head  of  Alexander  the 
2nd  to  his  many  victims. 


CHAPTEK  IX. 

A  boudoir  whose  walls,  to  the  height  of  the 
door,  were  covered  with  a  delicate  silver-blue 
India  silk,  above  which  they  were  finished  off 
with  a  narrow  frieze  whose  background  shaded 
from  an  almost  yellowish  tone,  to  a  soft  blue  as  it 
neared  the  cornice.  Here  and  there  were  painted 
flights  of  swallows,  their  blue,  and  grey,  and 
white,  plumage  delicately  indicated  against  the 
soft  tones  of  the  sky.  The  ceiling  of  French 
mirrors,  looked  like  a  silver  lake,  over  which  the 
frieze  with  its  flight  of  swallows  seemed  to  float. 
The  floor  was  stained  and  had  a  rich  colored 
Chlidema  square  carpet  in  the  centre.  On  one 
side  of  the  window  to  the  right,  was  a  beautiful 


70  gelta:  or, 

white  writing-desk,  inlaid  with  gold,  in  Byzantine 
design,  upon  which  were  littered  letters,  account 
books,  writing  materials,  etc.  Immediately  above 
it  hung  a  life  size  bust  in  oil  of  a  handsome 
woman  of  about  forty-five  years.  A  cottage  piano 
opposite  to  the  left  was  heaped  with  musical 
works  of  the  different  celebrated  composers,  and 
scattered  about  in  great  profusion  were  fresh  cut 
La  France  roses.  Vases  in  every  niche  and  cor- 
ner of  the  room  were  filled  with  these  beautiful 
blushing  buds. 

It  was  the  morning  after  her  third  appearance 
in  opera  before  a  Parisian  audience,  that  Gelta 
Dechon,  robed  in  a  simple  but  lovely  yellow  tea 
gown,  her  beautiful  dark  brown  locks  playing  in 
wild  confusion  about  her  exquisite  neck,  and 
shoulders,  was  reading  a  batch  of  journals  which 
her  faithful  maid  had  brought  her  with  her  cafe- 
au-lait,  hurriedly  perusing  columns  of  criticism 
expressive  of  the  highest  praise  of  her  last  night's 
impersonation,  when,  glancing  up,  she  caught  the 
old  servant's  look  of  suspense. 

"  Dear  old  Marianne,"  she  said,  "  don't  look  so 
serious,  the  papers  are  just  lovely.  Ah !  at  this 
moment  I  feel  that  I  could  actually  o'erstep  the 
bounds  of  my  cold  nature  and  kiss,  and  hug,  every 
one  of  those  dear  critics,  who  spoke  so  kindly  of 
me." 

"  My  dear  child,"  answered  the  faithful  servant, 
"  I  feel  sure  that  they  have  not  said  half  of  the 
praise  which  you  deserve." 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRICE.       71 

"  Oil  yes,  dear  Marianne  they  have,  and  much 
more,  beside,  one  so  seldom  gets  what  one  really 
deserves,  in  this  hurrying  bustling  world,  and  it 
is  for  this  reason,  that  I  feel  so  grateful  to  God, 
and  so  glad  in  my  gratitude.  Ah!  Marianne," 
she  sighed,  "  my  happiness  would  have  been  com- 
plete, if  only  my  darling  mother  had  lived,  to 
share  my  continued  triumph,"  and  then  the  tears 
welled  up  from  both  those  loving  hearts. 

After  a  silent  pause  Gelta  gently  turned  to  her 
faithful  servant,  and  bade  her  leave  her  alone  for 
a  while,  and  gave  orders  that  she  was  not  at 
home,  except  to  Count  Boroffsky,  whom  she  had 
asked  to  lunch  with  her  that  day. 

Marianne  bowed  and  quietly  left  the  room. 

Finding  herself  alone  once  more,  Gelta  threw 
herself  into  her  favorite  fauteuil,  and  sat  lost  for 
a  while  in  sweet,  sad  reveries,  gazing  at  the  beau- 
tiful portrait  in  oil  of  her  deceased  mother,  which 
hung  on  the  wall  over  her  escritoire. 

Surveying  the  placid  life-like  features,  Gelta 
found  herself  wondering,  not  for  the  first  time, 
how  those  artistic  gifts,  of  which  she  had  just 
been  reading  in  all  the  papers,  had  sprung  out  of 
such  ancestry  as  she  knew  was  hers — long  sober 
generations  of  Rabbi's  and  scholars,  of  gentlemen 
and  women,  instinct  with  simple  piety.  Perhaps 
it  was  intermixture  that  had  generated  the 
electric  spark,  for  her  mother  was  a  Hungarian, 
her  father  French,  while  the  child  herself  had 
been  born  in  the  State  of  Louisiana. 


72  gelta:  or, 

Mrs.  Dechon  being  left  a  widow  the  first  year 
after  her  marriage.  She  determined  after  Gelta's 
birth  to  reside  in  France,  and  devote  herself  to 
educate  her  daughter,  but  before  the  latter 
reached  her  twentieth  year,  Mrs.  Dechon  con- 
tracted a  cold  and  died  within  a  few  days. 

"Dearest  mother,"  she  thought,  "why  should 
I  have  been  so  severely  punished,  as  to  loose 
that  precious  mother,  the  sole  and  only  being  on 
whose  deep,  unselfish  love,  I  could  rely  always, 
why  is  it,  that  those  who  are  good,  and  full  of 
reverence  for  all  that  is  good,  and  pure,  should 
be  so  severely  tried  by  Crod,  severed  from  that 
which  is  nearest  and  dearest,  one's  own  mother, 
whose  hallowed  love  can  never,  never  be  re- 
placed." "  Yes,"  she  ejaculated  aloud  as  if  talk- 
ing to  someone,  "  I  am  very  wretched,  dreadfully 
so.  What  is  the  outward  glamor,  to  the  inward 
numbness  of  heart?" 

A  gentle  tap  at  the  door  for  one  brief  moment 
attracted  her  attention.  Looking  aside  she  saw 
the  faithful  old  Marianne  on  the  threshold  an- 
nouncing Count  Boroffsky. 

"Bid  him  enter,"  she  said,  and  then  lapsed 
again  into  her  day  dream. 

Count  Boroffsky  entered  the  pretty  boudoir 
with  the  ease  of  an  old  family  friend,  for  Gelta's 
mother  had  been  one  of  his  most  devoted  ad- 
mirers, and  warmest  sympathizers,  knowing  the 
reason  for  his  hatred,  of  the  Bussian  oppressor. 

He   stood  silently  gazing   at    the    enchanting 


THE  OZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRICE.       73 

picture  before  him,  of  this  willowy  brunette^ 
whose  perfect  form  was  draped  in  an  amber 
colored  robe,  which  gave  one  the  idea  of  fitting 
like  a  glove,  and  withal,  hanging  so  loose  and 
negligee  that  with  the  slightest  movement  of  the 
body,  it  would  ripple  into  waves,  that  followed 
the  beautiful  outlines  of  her  exquisite  curves. 
He,  himself,  as  he  stood  silently  contemplating 
his  subject,  was  not  less  picturesque.  He  was 
about  forty-five  years  old,  and  combined  the  dark 
eyes  and  the  olive  complexion  of  his  mother, 
with  his  father's  tall  athletic  figure. 

After  a  few  moments  silence,  seeing  that  she 
had  not  noticed  his  entrance,  he  interruped  her 
preoccupied  mind  with  "  my  dear  child,  I  am  so 
delighted  to  see  you,  and  to  be  the  first,  to  con- 
gratulate you,  in  propria  persona  upon  last  night's 
success.  Oh,  you  were  superb  in  voice,  beauty 
and—" 

"There,  there,  Count,"  she  said  interrupting 
him,  "no  flattering  you  know,  I  get  so  much  of  it 
from  the  indifferent  crowd,  that  from  my  few  in- 
timate friends,  I  must  exact  the  pill  of  sincerity, 
without  the  sugar  coating." 

"But  Gelta,  I  protest  for  I  am  always  sincere 
with  you!" 

"Well,  pray  don't  let  us  begin  to  differ  before 
luncheon  for  it  will  spoil  your  appetite,  and  you 
must  not  do  so  before  paying  homage  to  my 
cordon  bleu's  courses.  But  tell  me,  have  you 
heard  lately  from  your  dear  sister?" 


14:  gelta:  or, 

"Oh  yes,  her  husband  the  Senator  arrived  by 
an  early  train  this  morning,  in  time  to  breakfast 
with  me,  he  says  the  bracing  air  of  Enghien  has 
improved  Sacha's  health  wonderfully." 

"I  am  so  delighted  to  hear  that." 

"  By  the  bye,  the  Senator  is  coming  to  pay  his 
homage  to  you  after  lunch." 

"Ah!  yes  I  know,"  she  laughingly  said,  "an- 
other flatterer.     Tou  men  are  all  alike." 

"Now  Gelta  you  should  not  judge  all  men 
alike." 

"And  why  not?  are  you  not  all  flatterers?  and 
do  you  not  all  attempt  to  make  love  to  every 
woman  you  meet?" 

"By  that  you  mean  to  accuse  me  of  having  tried 
to  make  love  to  you." 

"Well,"  she  queried  with  an  arch  smile,  "is  it 
not  true?" 

"Oh  yes,"  he  laughingly  replied,  and  warming 
up  with  true  Parisian  gallantry  said,  "  who  would 
not  attempt  to  speak  of  love  when  finding  himself 
in  the  presence  of  a  superb  woman  with  the  form 
and  beauty  of  a  Goddess,  and  a  mind  like  Min- 
erva's?" 

"  There,  there,  Count  that  will  do." 

"Who  would  not,"  he  continued,  interrupting 
her,  "  worship  at  the  shrine  of  so  much  purity?  " 

"Which  you  attempted  to  convert,"  she  inter- 
rupted laughingly,  "to  your  own  naughty  views." 

Airily  as  she  spoke  he  felt  the  adamantine  will 
behind  the  light  words.    With  a  sudden  spasm 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRICE.       75 

of  hopelessness,  lie  resolved  to  show  his  cards. 
Candor  might  achieve,  what  cunning  had  missed. 

"  Forgive  me,"  he  said,  "  if  I  spoke  of  love  to 
you,  it  was  the  cause  I  had  at  heart." 

"  The  cause !  The  cause  ?  "  she  queried,  and  sat 
back  astonished  in  her  fauteuil. 

"  Yes  divine  Gelta,  it  was  for  the  sake  of  our 
cause.  For  that  same  reason  Signor  Monte  had 
been  diffusing  his  sighs,  whenever  he  could,  in 
your  sweet  presence,  and  when  your  severity  for- 
bade that,  he  sighed  beneath  your  window;  and 
that  has  been  the  method  we  have  both  pursued, 
these  twelve  months,  in  order  to  see  whether  you 
were  really  as  firm  in  character,  and  immovable 
from  your  set  idea  of  what  is  right,  as  you 
seemed,  and  whether  you  could  really  resist  the 
manly  fervor,  and  passionate  pleading  of  an 
Adonis  like  Leo  Monti." 

"How  many  more  of  my  so-called  admirers?" 
she  asked,  a  cynical  smile  hovering  over  her  face 
like  a  stray  sunbeam,  "  how  many  more  of  my 
heart-smitten  friends,  for  you  know,"  she  said, 
"there  are  about  a  dozen,  who  profess  undying 
love  for  me,  tell  me,  how  many  of  them  are  in  the 
enemy's  camp  ? ' 

"  Oh,  about  seven  or  eight,"  he  answered  lightly, 
then  becoming  more  serious,  he  said,  "really 
Gelta  you,  a  Jewess,  could  never  designate  our 
noble  band,  your  enemies." 

"  No,  Count,  not  if  you  put  it  in  that  light — but 
let  us  discuss  this  matter  as  between  man  and 


76  gelta:  ob, 

woman,"  and  then  she  seriously  continued,  "  so 
while  you  all  enjoyed  my  hospitality,  and  friend- 
ship ;  you  did  not  for  a  moment  hesitate,  to  attack 
my  heart ;  and  had  it  yielded  to  the  pressure  of 
the  fevered  hand,  it  would  have  been  afterwards 
carelessly  tossed  aside.  Meanwhile  being  melted 
out  of  form,  and  shape ;  and  this  would  have  been 
the  unscrupulous  work,  of  some  of  my  so-called 
friends." 

"Pardon  me,  but  you  were  not  a  woman  who 
would  yield,  this  was  our  impression  from  the 
very  first." 

"  And  now,"  she  said  slowly. 

"  And  now,"  he  repeated,  bowing  courteously, 
"  our  unanimous  opinion  is  that  the  citadel  is  im- 
pregnable." 

A  silver  laugh  broke  from  her  lips,  as  an  emblem 
of  forgiveness ;  "  Eeally,  Count,"  she  added  after 
a  moment's  merriment,  "  I  must  admit  that  your 
band's  method,  of  converting,  one  to  Nihilism,  is 
unique !  and  may  I,"  she  sarcastically  continued, 
"  add  rather  pleasant  to  the  convertors." 

"  Oh,  how  you  wrong  us  men !"  he  replied  with 
a  touch  of  sadness  in  his  voice. 

"  Wrong  you  !"  she  interrupted,  getting  excited 
in  her  delivery,  "  wrong  you,  it  well  becomes  you 
to  say  so,  it  is  so  characteristic  of  man  to  attempt 
to  do  the  uttermost  mischief  that  lies  within  his 
power,  and  if  he  meets  defeat  where  he  least  ex- 
pected it — why  then  he  cries  out  to  the  gods,  of 
how  he  has  been  wronged.    Really  Count  it  is 


THE  CZAB  AND  THE  CANTATRICE.  77 

very  farcical ;"  and  she  threw  nerself  back  amid 
the  cushions  of  her  fauteuil,  and  indulged  in  a 
long  hearty  laugh. 

He  stood  in  an  attitude  of  humility  with  his 
head  bowed  like  a  general  who  had  been  defeated, 
and  taken  prisoner, — for  he  was  only  human, 
though  he  had  sacrificed  love,  and  all  the  sacred 
ties,  to  the  cause  of  stamping  out  oppression,  still 
this  beautiful  child,  so  fair  in  girlhood's  lovlines3, 
so  pure,  and  high  minded,  so  extraordinarily  in- 
telligent, and  so  thoroughly  accomplished ;  who 
could  remain  indifferent  in  her  presence?  Al- 
though his  head  was  bowed,  his  eyes  gazed  into 
hers,  as  he  seriously  replied,  "yes,  you  wrong  us 
men;  Gelta  you  do  not  know  or  cannot,  as  a  girl 
understand  the  torture  a  man  endures,  when  he 
makes  love  to  a  woman,  when  his  passions  get 
roused  to  the  highest  pitch,  and  when  he  can  hope 
for  no  consolation  from  the  object,  sought  with 
such  emotional  fervor." 

"  But  tell  me,  Count,"  she  asked  interrupting 
his  passionate  outburst,  "  tell  me  ;  you,  and  your 
conspiring  friends,  have  never  suffered  the  tortures 
which  you  speak  of,  since  you  have  never  given 
the  object  to  whom  you,  and  they,  attempted  to 
make  love  to,  a  moment's  feeling,  or  serious 
thought,  since  it  is  all  done  to  gain  converts,  for 
the  good  of  your  cause,  since  it  is  simply,  a  me- 
chanical device,  to  serve  your  purpose." 

"  It  may  be  a  device,"  he  interposed,  "  yet  it  by 
no  means  follows,  that  the  deviser  escapes  suffer- 


78  gelta:  or, 

ing.  Man  lacks  that  keen,  calculative  penetration, 
which  nature  has  endowed  your  charming  sex 
with.  Do  you  for  a  moment  suppose,"  he  con- 
tinued, "  that  man  would  ever  seek  the  society  of 
a  pretty  woman,  would  ever  attempt  to  kiss  her, 
allow  his  passionate  nature  to  dwell  upon  thoughts 
of  love,  while  grafting  her  image  on  his  mind,  if, 
in  the  secret  chamber  of  his  heart  he  did  not  feel 
convinced,  that  he  would  eventually  overthrow 
the  theories  of  his  fair  antagonist  ?  Certainly  not ! 
If  he  actually  realized  the  hopelessness  of  his  at- 
tempt, man  would  shrink  from  his  boldly  laid  plot, 
like  a  child  before  a  dragon.  For  he  well  knows 
the  penalty  which  nature  exacts,  from  those  who 
attempt  to  juggle  with  her  emotions.  No,  my  fair 
enchantress  "  he  went  on,  "  you  may  rest  assured 
that  man  has  not  the  deep  penetration,  which  is 
your  sex's  great  weapon  of  defence,  for  man  goes 
forth  to  entangle  the  weaker  sex,  when  to  his 
amazement  he  discovers,  that  he  himself,  is  hope- 
lessly entangled." 

"  And  a  blessing  it  is  to  my  sex,"  she  answered 
"  to  be  able  so  deftly  to  punish,  man's  conceited 
temerity." 

"Therefore,"  he  continued,  "you  must  imagine 
how  many  sacrifices  of  physical  and  mental  suffer- 
ing my  brethren  and  I  are  willing  to  endure  in  the 
cause  of  justice,  if  we  venture  to  face  the  danger 
of  your  fascinations.  For  our  noble  band  has 
sworn  solemnly  never  to  marry,  never  for  a  brief 
moment  to  consider  one's  personal  feelings  or 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  OANTATRICE.  79 

comforts.  Our  entire  life  and  death  have  been 
dedicated  to  only  one  sacred  aim,  and  that  is,  to 
eradicate  the  unjust  tryanny  of  Kussia !" 

"  My  dear  Count,"  she  said,  "  you  have  my 
warmest  smypathy." 

"  We  want  more,"  he  replied,  coming  close  to 
her  chair,  and  looking  cautiously  about  him.  Then 
bending  over  her,  he  whispered,  "  Gelta,  we  want 
more  than  sympathy  from  you,  we  want  you  to 
join  our  cause  in  action,  to  be  the  Jewish  Joan  of 
Arc,  and  help  to  crush  oppression  beneath  our 
feet." 

"  My  dear  Count  the  project  is  pure  insanity." 

"  There  are  times,"  he  retorted  "  when  the  sub- 
lime insanity  of  one  moment,  seems  saner  than 
the  sanity  of  the  flat  years." 

"  But  Count,"  she  interposed — 

"  Don't,  don't  pray  interrupt  me,"  he  replied, 
"until  you  have  heard  what  we  have  mapped  out 
for  you ;"  and  with  low  rapid  speech  he  continued, 

"  since  the  death  of  General  B ,  our  mode  of 

communication  has  been  discovered,  our  slightest 
movements  are  watched  by  a  thousand  spying 
eyes,  there  is  only  one  person,  who  can  to-day 
enter  the  Russian  frontier,  proceed  to  St.  Peters- 
burg, be  entertained  by  the  elite  of  Russian 
society,  without  ever  rousing  the  slightest  sus- 
picion. If  you  will  only  say  the  word  yes!  the 
rest  would  be  easy,  very  easy.  For  you  well  know 
that  lam  the  family  physician  of  our  Russian 
minister  here,  and  that  the  director  of  the  Si 


80  gelta:  or, 

Petersburg  Opera  house  is  an  old  friend ;  don't 
you  see,  how  between  the  Russian  Minister  at 
Paris,  and  the  director  at  St.  Petersburg,  they 
could  easily  facilitate  matters,  without  ever  sus- 
pecting the  real  object,  it  would  only  be  render- 
ing me,  their  friend,  a  personal  favor.  If  after 
your  pronounced  success  of  last  night,  in  a  month 
or  so,  your  physician  recommended  you  to  a 
change  of  climate,  to  recuperate  your  health,  and 
if  you  received  an  advantageous  offer,  from  the 
directors  of  St.  Petersburg,  to  appear  before  a 
Russian  audience,  for  a  few  limited  concerts,  and 
operatic  performances,  with  the  American  and 
Russian  Ministers  at  Paris  as  your  social  sponsors, 
the  door  of  the  imperial  family  itself ';  would  be 
thrown  open  to  welcome  the  beautiful  American 
nightingale.  Then  when  you  are  there,  you  have 
only  to  communicate  a  new  cypher,  to  one  of  our 
brethren,  and  the  Czar  with  his  family  in  a  year 
hence,  will  count  no  more.  The  Russian  people 
are  realizing  the  necessity,  of  a  constitutional 
government,  and  tyranny  will  have  received  its 
death  blow  forever." 

Gelta  during  all  these  explosions  of  thought, 
sat  with  calm  sad  eyes,  gazing  at  the  Count,  as  the 
lights  and  shades  played  on  his  countenance,  now 
rendered  thoroughly  handsome,  by  the  excited 
outbursts  of  his  soul.  She  knew  the  sad  story  of 
his  life.  Knew  his  beloved  mother  had  been 
hounded  to  her  death,  how  millions,  innocent  like 
her,  were  at  this  very  moment  passing  through  the 


THE  OZAR  AND  THE  OANTATRIOE.       81 

same  throes  of  agony,  having  their  hearts  blood 
spilled,  and  scattered,  to  the  winds,  and  all  for 
what  ?  All  through  Eussian  tyranny ;  all  through 
the  iron  rod  in  the  hand  of  the  Czar !  in  whose 
name  his  officers ;  and  councillors,  rain  blows  on 
the  heads  of  his  most  devoted  subjects.  Yet  what 
could  a  tiny  handful  of  enthusiastic  martyrs  ac- 
complish ?  Nothing !  All  this  Gelta  was  for  the 
hundredth  time  silently  revolving  in  her  active 
brain,  struggling  to  discover  some  other  means, 
besides  dynamite,  by  which  the  wretched  people 
of  Eussia  could  hope  for  deliverance,  but  no !  it 
all  seemed  so  very  dark,  so  very  impenetrable. 
Nothing !  she  mentally  concluded,  could  save  the 
suffering  people  and  no  one,  but  God!  Oh!  if  Be 
only  would  take  compassion  upon  human  misery, 
as  he  did  when  he  delivered  the  children  of  Israel, 
from  the  Egyptian  oppressor. 

Count  Boroffsky  seeing  her  plunged  in  deep 
thought,  without  apparently  offering  any  resist- 
ance to  his  arguments,  stood  in  front  of  her  with 
fixed  eyes,  endeavoring  his  utmost  to  bring  his 
supposed  power  of  hypnotism  to  subdue  this  ac- 
complished strong-minded  girl  to  his  will.  With 
mental  rapture  he  watched  her  dilated  eyes,  look- 
ing far  into  space. 

"The  first  hypnotic  symptoms,"  he  thought, 
"are  taking  effect;  if  I  can  only  keep  her  mind 
under  this  influence,  for  one  half  hour,  then  she 
will  be  ours,  then  she  will  obey  our  bidding. ' 
And  he  stood  motionless,  with  outstretched  hands 


82  gelta:  or, 

before  her,  the  hypnotizer  watching  his  subject, 
the  physician  watching  his  patient,  and  now  feel- 
ing convinced,  that  eventually  nature  must  yield, 
to  the  scientist! 

Eeturning  from  her  mental  peregrination,  she 
stirred,  her  lips  moved,  she  whispered,  "  Oh,  if 
God  would  only  take  compassion  on  them." 

"God!"  he  exclaimed,  "No,  Gelta,  God  does  not 
trouble  with  us  here.  It  is  we  men  who  do  the 
wrong!  man's  inhumanity  to  man,  and  therefore 
upon  us  devolves  the  responsibility  to  right  the 
wrong,  and  if  justice  cannot  be  accomplished 
through  right,  why  then  it  must  be  done  through 
might!  You  know  the  old  adage:  'All's  fair  in  love 
and  war.'  It  is  not  the  weapons  we  employ,  but 
the  justifiable  end,  to  benefit  humanity,  which  we 
are  pursuing,  which  is  the  cause  of  our  noble 
heroes,  and  heroines,  having  pledged  their  lives, 
to  root  out  the  pest  which  devastates  Kussia." 

"Ah!  Count,"  she  said,  becoming  once  more  her 
energetic  self,  "you  talk  like  the  true  surgeon,  who 
does  not  hesitate  to  cut  deep  into  the  human 
flesh,  if  it  is  eventually  to  relieve  the  patient  from 
his  suffering,  and  therefore  the  knife  becomes  a 
divine  instrument,  but  there,  you  have  carefully 
studied  the  subject,  and  thoroughly  reasoned  it 
out — but  what  lucid  reason,  can  there  be,  in  your 
present  method  of  action?  None!  you  all  know  me 
thoroughly  well  enough,  to  understand,  that  there 
is  not  one  atom  of  fear,  nor  selfishness,  in  my 
nature — and  if  by  devoting,  aye,  sacrificing  my  life, 


THE  CZAR  AN©  THE  OANTATRICE.  83 

I  could  bring  relief  to  my  oppressed  fellow  beings, 
then  my  only  regret  would  be,  that  I  had  not  a 
hundred  lives,  to  dedicate  to  the  cause !  You  know 
very  well  how  keenly  alive  I  am,  to  the  insults, 
heaped  upon  the  proud  ancient  house  ot  Israel, 
the  chosen  people  of  God,  ancestors  of  great 
kings,  prophets,  of  warriors,  poets,  musicians,  the 
Jewish  woman,"  she  continued  with  enthusiasm, 
"who  stands  out  pre-eminently  as  an  emblem  of 
purity,  since  God  saw  fit  to  choose  a  Jewish 
maiden  as  the  mother  of  Christ.  Does  it  not  seem 
sadly  ludicrous,  that  these  so-called  Christians, 
should  worship  Jesus,  while  directing  the  greatest 
insults  against  his  relatives,  whose  parents,  were 
his  ancestors?  Is  it  not  a  disgrace  to  modern  civi- 
lization, that  such  barbarous  prejudices  should 
be  tolerated,  or  allowed  against  any  race,  or  sect, 
because  of  a  political  error  which  their  ancestors 
may  have  committed?  No,  Count,  we  are  not  so 
civilized  as  we  think  we  are,  for  with  all  our 
vaunted  civilization,  we  have  made  very  little  ad- 
vance, within  the  last  two  thousand  years.  The 
world  is  still  hid  in  its  black  cloak  of  barbarity, 
still  immured,  in  the  dungeon,  of  its  narrow  ideas, 
and  petty  prejudices,  which  will  not  permit  pro- 
gressive thoughts,  or  enlightened  minds,  to  enter 
its  portals.  With  the  exception  of  dear  America, 
France,  and  merrie  old  England,  God  bless  them 
all;  in  what  other  country  can  a  man  go  to  the 
church  of  his  choice,  harbor  his  own  theological 
theories,  and  yet  feel  that  love  of  fellowship,  to- 


84:  gelta:  ob, 

wards  Lis  neighbor,  who  perhaps,  worships,  his 
God,  in  a  manner  differing,  much  from  his  own 
method?  Still,  that  does  not  prevent  him  from 
feeling  the  good  will,  towards  his  neighbor,  it  does 
not  make  him  harbor  hidden  dislikes,  because  the 
other  man  worships  his  God,  from  a  different  chap- 
ter in  the  Bible.  Of  course  we  owe  this  liberty  of 
thought  to  the  three  grandest  nations  in  the  world, 
whose  enlightened  governments  stand  pre-emi- 
nent, upon  the  firm,  foundation,  of  justice  and 
truth !  And  may  they  forever  remain,  the  beacon 
light  of  true  civilization." 

Count  Boroffsky  stood  silontly  gazing  at  her; 
he  could  not  refrain  from  inwardly  admiring  her 
logical  eloquence,  but  as  her  beautiful  counte- 
nance resumed  its  normal  repose,  his  heart  mis- 
gave  him,  he  felt  his  air  castles,  built  upon 
hypnotic  theories,  crumble  beneath  him,  he  felt 
vaguely  convinced,  that  hypnotism,  in  his  sense 
of  interpretation,  did  not  exist.  The  scientist  for  a 
brief  moment  realized  that  he  had  been  pursuing 
a  phantom,  which  when  clutched  yields  no  sub- 
stance to  the  grasp,  simply  a  delusion,  nothing 
more !  Still,  he  did  not  interrupt  her,  and  Gelta 
continued : 

"Do  you  know  Count,"  she  said,  "a  feeling  has 
for  some  time  pervaded  me,  that  one  day,  perhaps 
it  may  yet  be  a  distant  day,  still  I  think  that  be- 
fore another  hundred  years  shall  have  passed, 
Russia's  tyranny,  will  be  abolished,  through  the 
combined  efforts,  of  America,  and  England.   They 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRICE.  85 

do  not  realize  as  yet,  that  it  is  their  duty  to  inter- 
fere, for  those  distant  sufferers,  but  some  day  it 
will  dawn  upon  them,  as  a  mission  from  God,  that 
it  is  their  sacred  duty,  to  go  forth,  and  deliver  the 
helpless  Eussians,  from  the  bondage,  beneath 
which  they  now  writhe,  just  as  the  Northern  States 
went  against  the  South,  to  right  the  wrongs 
of  the  negro  slave.  You  know  that  as  a  native 
Southern  girl,  I  ought  to  feel  pained  at  the  North's 
interference,  but  I  don't ;  on  the  contrary,  I  rever- 
ence and  ardently  love,  the  North;  for  having 
irrevokably,  lifted  the  cloud  of  ignominity,  that 
was  hovering  over  the  South.  It  is  to  the  glori- 
ous North,  we  owe  the  respect,  with  which  other 
nations,  now  must  regard  us." 

"But,"  said  the  Count,  his  face  once  more 
beaming  with  a  suppressed  hope,  "if  through  our 
noble  little  band  this  grand  event  were  to  pre- 
cipitate the  delivery  of  Kussia,  if  through  our  be- 
havior, we  could  attract,  the  attention  of  England 
and  America,  and  thereby  concentrate  their  gaze 
upon  the  tortured  Kussian,  then  it  might  precipi- 
tate their  interference." 

"  No,  Count  believe  me,  you  and  your  followers, 
are  laboring  under  a  sad  mistake,"  she  answered, 
«'I  feel  that  all  your  attempts  at  aiming  at  the 
Czar's  death  for  peace's  sake,  are  futile!  Too 
much  has  there  been  of  it.  And  what  has  been 
the  results  ?  A  certain  number  of  assassinations ; 
some  noisy  explosions  of  dynamite,  and  no  more, 
when  the  smoke  has  cleared  all  has  been  found 


ob  gelta:  or, 

to  be  as  before.  Believe  me,  if  the  present  Czar 
should  be  assassinated,  another  would  succeed 
him,  perhaps  even  more  cruel,  and  then,"  she  con- 
tinued, an  angelic  light  like  a  halo  crowning  her 
beautiful  face,  "what  a  grand  triumph,  for  the 
Czar  it  would  be,  one  which  would  compel  the  ad- 
miration of  the  world,  if  one  could  reach  the 
heart  of  this  Emperor,  and  through  his  own  kind 
magnanimity,  have  him  ease  the  yoke  of  his 
people."  At  this  extravagant  remark,  the  Count 
shrank  back  with  a  surprised  and  sardonic  laugh ! 

"Ah,  my  child,"  he  sighed,  "you  cannot  realize 
what  a  fiend  this  being  is;  who  stands  invested 
with  the  title  of  Czar." 

At  this  juncture  Marrienne  appeared  and  an- 
nounced lunch. 

"Come  Count,"  said  Gelta,  arising  and  gently 
taking  hold  of  his  arm,  "come  let  us  to  dejeuner, 
for  after  our  long  discussion  I  feel  very  hungry, 
and  you  know,"  she  laughingly  continued,  "we 
singers  usually  are  endowed  with  tremendous 
appetites." 

"  You  simply  pretend  to  be  in  a  jesting  mood," 
he  answered  seriously,  "so  as  to  indicate,  that  my 
appeal  has  made  no  impression." 

"No  Count,"  she  interposed  slowly,  "my  heart, 
and  sincere  sympathies,  have  always  been  with 
you,  and  your  noble  followers,  but  you  are  mis- 
guided, in  your  mode  of  procedure;  and  as  I  can- 
not suggest  a  remedy,  I  desire  to  remain  neutral! 
I  cannot,  and  will  not,  implicate  myself  in  a  battle, 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  OANTATRIOE.  87 

where  the  chance  for  success  seems  hopeless!'* 
And  with  a  determined  look  she  continued,  "let 
us  not  discuss  this  subject  again,  as  my  having 
to  refuse,  is  very  annoying  to  myself,  and  to  my 
friends,  and  now  once  for  always,  since  we  thor- 
oughly understand  each  other;  let  us  go  and  en- 
joy our  luncheon" 


CHAPTEE  X. 

It  was  spring.  In  spring  Paris  takes  on,  as 
does  no  other  city,  something  of  the  savor  and 
seduction  of  a  pretty  woman,  and  in  the  perfumed 
air,  particularly  in  the  Bois,  there  is  a  headiness 
that  will  intoxicate. 

Three  months  had  passed  since  Gelta's  success- 
ful third  visit  to  Paris  had  caused  her  name  and 
talents  to  become  a  household  word  wherever 
she  chose  to  look.  She  saw  herself  invariably 
praised,  and  yet  her  inward  soul  yearned  for  some- 
thing more  lasting  than  the  momentary  applause 
of  the  fleeting  crowd.  Most  other  girls  would  have 
been  extremely  happy  in  her  position,  but  Gelta 
was  so  different,  from  other  girls.  She  would 
always  think  of  those,  whose  life,  was  so  full  of 
darkness,  she  would  always  contrast  her  pleasant 
surroundings,  with  those  of  her  less  fortunate  sis- 
ters, then  she  would  feel  a  pang  of  sorrow  vibrate 
through  her  brain,  and  she  would  say  to  herseli 
that  she  had  no  right  to  exult  in  her  happiness, 


88  gelta:  or, 

whilst  there  was  so  much  misery,  amongst  human- 
ity, without  giving  their  sufferings  a  thought, 
without  offering  her  mite,  to  soften  the  sorrow,  of 
those,  so  bowed  beneath  misfortune.  And  then 
she  felt  deeply  pained,  after  reading  every  day 
the  daily  despatches,  depicting  the  cruel,  perse- 
cution, of  her  race  in  Russia,  and  the  humiliation 
heaped  upon  Judaism,  the  mother  of  religion,  from 
which  Catholicy,  Protestantism  and  many  other 
sects,  were  the  offspring,  and  to  see  these,  her  own 
descendants,  insult  her  in  her  old  age,  while  pro- 
gress was  marching  forward,  without  pausing  to 
castigate,  the  unnatural  offspring,  was  indeed  a 
very  sad  spectacle  to  contemplate,  and  poor  Gelta's 
heart  was  filled  with  intense  pain,  at  her  own 
helplessness.  "Oh!"  she  thought,  "if  I  could 
only  prove  a  second  Queen  Esther !  to  be  able  to 
plead,  before  the  Czar  for  my  people,  to  be  able 
to  obtain,  his  goodwill,  toward  the  Jews,  I  would 
willingly  offer  my  life  as  a  sacrifice."  Then  she 
thought  of  all  that  Count  Boroffsky  had  said  to 
her  so  often,  of  how  callous  and  inhuman  the 
Czar  was,  and  how  it  even  lay  within  her  power 
to  have  the  Czar,  and  his  family,  hurried  out  of 
the  world.  But  no,  her  heart,  the  heart  of  the 
true  Jewess,  shrank  from  a  deed  so  brutal,  a  deed 
of  blood  and  murder;  all  the  Jewish  antipathy, 
rose  with  noble  horror,  at  the  imaginary  sight,  of 
the  revolting  deed.  "No,"  she  mentally  con- 
cluded, "  in  future  I  will  not  listen  to  any  of  Bor- 
offsky's  nihilistic  plots;  it  must  not  be  through 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRICE.  89 

treachery,  or  murder,  that  the  Jews  shall  be  re- 
stored, to  their  ancient  high  position;  it  is  their 
superior  morals  and  thoughts  that  must  eventu- 
ally gain  them,  their  high,  and  just  recognition, 
from  all  the  other  races.  No!  it  must  not  be  ac- 
complished through  treachery  or  bloodshed,  but 
on  the  contrary,  through  love,  pure,  divine  love, 
such  an  unselfish  love,  as  one  of  our  holy  brethren 
preached,  thousands  of  years  ago !  whose  memory 
and  name  the  Gentiles  adore !  but  not  his  preach- 
ing. They  mumble  aloud  the  name  of  Christ,  so 
that  they  might  be  overheard  by  their  neighbors, 
while  they  shut  Him,  and  His  divine  teachings  of 
good  will  towards  men,  out  of  their  selfish  hearts, 
and  this  is  the  fashionable  religion  of  to-day. 
Oh,  how  much  more  satisfactory  to  the  inward 
soul,  were  a  tiny  grain  of  holy  love,  and  purity  of 
feeling,  toward  suffering  and  downcast  mankind, 
than  a  mountainous  display  of  pompous  vanity, 
and  empty  chaff.  And  then  she  once  more  re- 
flected, that  perhaps  the  Czar,  is  not  so  callous, 
at  heart,  as  report  says,  perhaps  if  one  could 
reach  the  good  spark  of  his  soul,  that  divine 
spark  of  heaven,  which  lies  hidden,  in  the  inner 
recess,  in  the  most  hardened,  of  human  beings — 
perhaps  if  it  were  found,  and  fanned  into  a  flame, 
he  would  yet  be  a  noble  ruler ! " 

And  then  she  thought,  "  I  have  been  told  so 
many  times  by  both  the  sexes,  that  I  am  possessed 
of  the  power  of  magnetic  personality,  which  per- 
force attracts ;  and  if  such  is  really  the  case,  then 


90  gelta:  or, 

is  it  not  my  duty  to  go  to  St.  Petersburg,  to 
endeavor  to  fascinate  the  Czar,  in  order  to  gain 
his  good  will  towards  the  unhappy  House  of 
Israel  ?  "  Then  suddenly  she  started  up  from  her 
seat  and  began  to  pace  hurriedly  up  and  down  the 
room.  "  What  madness ! "  she  said  aloud  to  her- 
self, as  the  idea  of  going  to  St.  Petersburg  seemed 
to  take  a  fixed  hold  upon  her.  "It  is  such  a 
chimeric  idea,  this  power  of  magnetism,  and  I  am 
really  astonished,  at  myself,  for  having  one  brief 
moment  indulged  in  the  absurd  thought.  No, 
there  is  only  one  power  to  invoke,  the  power  of 
the  Almighty.    He  will  guide  me." 


CHAPTEE  XL 

The  world  is  strange !  nothing  happens  that  we 
anticipate,  when  apparently  stiffled  by  the  com- 
monplace, we  are  on  the  brink  of  stepping  into 
the  adventurous!  Life  is  adventurous.  Events 
are  perpetually  occurring  even  in  the  calmness  of 
domestic  existence,  which  change  in  an  instant, 
the  whole  train  and  tenor  of  our  thoughts  and 
feelings,  and  often  materially  influence  our  for- 
tunes and  our  character.  It  is  strange  and  some- 
times as  profitable,  as  it  is  singular,  to  recall  our 
state,  on  the  eve  of  some  acquaintance,  which 
transfigures  our  being,  with  some  man  whose 
philosophy  revolutionizes  our  mind ;  with  some 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRICE.       91 

woman  whose  charms  metamorphose  our  career. 
Those  retrospective  meditations,  are  fruitful  of 
self  knowledge. 

Three  months  had  elapsed  since  Gelta's  return 
to  Paris.  After  a  few  days  rest  she  had  taken  up 
her  old  work  in  order  to  shut  out  new  thoughts 
and  feelings  which  were  constantly  assailing  her! 
It  was  just  because  all  her  feelings  ran  down  to 
the  roots  of  her  life,  and  that  each  was  as  real  as 
the  other,  that  she  found  such  a  difficulty  in 
reckoning  with  them.  She  was  endeavoring  to 
fly  from  her  own  self.  Notwithstanding  the  con- 
stant excitement,  and  the  many  visitors,  that 
always  surrounded  her,  a  great  change  had  taken 
place  within  her.  For  the  first  time  since  her 
childhood,  the  proud  refractory  feelings  of  her 
heart,  were  subdued,  and  a  deep  sensation  of  joy, 
mingled  with  a  dull  pain,  pervaded  her ;  and  on 
top  of  all  the  waves  of  emotion,  that  surged  up 
within  her,  was  the  sympathetic  face  of  Count 
Varicoff,  like  an  angel  of  light,  imploring  her  to 
sail  with  him  into  a  new,  and  undiscovered 
world ;  where  the  harbor  of  divine  love  could  be 
reached ! 

At  such  times  she  would  piteously  stretch  out 
her  hands  to  dismiss  the  sight  from  her  mind,  and 
then  to  rouse  herself,  would  indulge  in  drives,  and 
scenes  of  excitement,  in  order  to  drown,  the  one 
yearning  of  her  heart.  Count  Boroffsky  was  one 
of  her  frequent  guests,  and  although  he  had  still 
persisted  since  her  return  from  London  in  coaxing 


92  gelta:  or, 

her  to  join  his  cause,  and  to  visit  St.  Petersburg, 
she  had  determined  never  to  get  entangled  with 
plots  and  conspiracies  of  any  kind,  so  he 
eventually  abandoned  the  hope  of  enlisting  her 
services.  Still  he  was  one  of  the  few  devoted 
friends  whom  she  really  trusted,  for  he  felt  almost 
a  paternal  interest  in  her  welfare. 

He  had  of  late  silently  observed  a  marked 
change  in  her,  she  seemed  sad,  at  times  distracted, 
she  would  converse  with  friends,  and  her  eyes 
would  wander  beyond  them,  gazing  into  empty 
space. 

One  Sunday  after  the  coffee  had  been  served  in 
her  salon,  (Boroffsky  having  that  day  lunched 
with  her),  she,  after  having  sipped  her  coffee  in 
good  old  Turkish  style,  suddenly  threw  off  for  a 
moment  her  serious  manner,  and  became  en- 
raptured with  the  holy  fire  of  her  old  enthusiasm, 
for  music,  and  song.  He  sat  silently  observing 
her  attempt,  at  light-heartedness,  then  shook  his 
head  in  the  negative. 

"No!  Gelta,"  he  murmured  slowly,  "you  cannot 
deceive  me  !  you  are  deeply  in  love ! " 

"In  love!"  she  exclaimed  utterly  disconcerted 
at  the  dreadful  revelation,  which  she  had  en- 
deavored not  to  admit  even  to  herself!  "I,  in 
love!"  she  continued,  "What  put  that  absurd 
idea  into  your  head  ?  " 

"  Well,  I  am  a  man,  and  have  studied,  and  do 
study,  by  preference,  the  female  heart,  the  finest 
and    most    wonderful    of  nature's    work.     As   a 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRICE.  93 

phjrsician,  and  from  a  scientific  stand-point,  I  am 
interested  in  its  different  symptoms,"  and  then 
drawing  his  chair  nearer  to  hers,  and  taking  hold 
of  her  wrist  to  feel  her  pulse  he  concluded,  "  Yes 
Gelta,  you  are  deeply  in  love !  the  fever  is  not  yet 
thoroughly  developed,  but  its  symptoms  have 
already  arrived.' ' 

"Beally,  Doctor!"  she  answered  mockingly, 
"  and  as  a  physician,  what  antidote  do  you  pro- 
scribe ?" 

"  Marriage,"  he  promptly  replied. 

Instead  of  receiving  his  prescription  with  a 
hearty  laugh,  she  leaned  back  in  her  chair  with 
serious  mien  and  plaintive  voice,  murmuring, 
"It  is  sad,  very  sad,  that  marriage,  should  cure 
love!" 

"  Not  at  all,"  he  smilingly  interposed,  "  it  simply 
allays  the  fever  ! " 

"Marriage!  Marriage!"  she  slowly  mused. 
She  had  never  thought  of  marriage  unless  to 
laugh  at  it,  and  now  she  discovered,  that  an  un- 
known, and  mighty  emotion,  had  taken  hold  of 
her.  She  saw  at  her  feet  an  immense  castle 
crumbling. — Until  now,  she  had  calmly  and  firmly 
believed  in  will  power,  and  now,  she  felt  this 
will  strangely  battling,  with  a  greater  power. — 
Marriage !  she  mused,  and  then  continued  aloud. 

"  Doctor,  I  am  afraid  that  I  shall  never  marry ! " 

"And  why?"  he  asked  with  an  incredulous 
smile. 

"  Why,"  she  repeated,  "  Because  you  ought  to 


94  gelta:  ob, 

know  me  sufficiently  well,  by  this  time,  to  feel 
that  I  will  never  marry  a  man,  whom  I  do  not 
deeply  love,  that  I  will  never  perjure  myself,  as 
nine-tenths  of  the  women  do,  by  swearing  at  the 
altar,  that  they  love,  and  will  continue  to  love 
their  husbands,  when  in  reality,  they  only  feel  a 
very  faint  affection  for  them,  sometimes,  not  even 
that.  In  circumstances  so  deplorable,  marriage 
with  all  its  ceremonies,  including  the  church, 
bridesmaids,  and  relatives,  is  nothing  but  a  sacri- 
legious farce.  Then  again,  another  great  obstacle 
lies  in  my  path !  I  am  a  Jewess,  and  in  the 
nature  of  things,  I  am  supposed  to  marry  within 
the  bounds  of  my  religion,  and  supposing,  inde- 
pendent of  my  will,  I  fall  deeply  in  love,  with  a 
Gentile,  and  you  know,"  she  said,  "I  number 
some  of  my  dearest  friends,  among  them,  you 
also  know,  when  we,  of  our  race,  love,  it  is 
deeply,  and  for  life. ' 

"  Well,  if  you  were  really  in  love  with  a  Gentile, 
you  certainly  would  marry  him,"  he  answered. 

"  I  don't  think  I  should, "  she  quietly  replied, 
"not  because  of  prejudice,"  she  quickly  added, 
"  oh,  no !  for  it  is  only  very,  very  ignorant  and 
narrow-minded  persons  who  harbor  prejudice, 
that  is  something  I  am  thankful  to  say,  which  I 
have  never  felt.  No,  I  may  pityingly  look  on  the 
petty  insults  that  are  thrust  against  the  Jews, 
because  of  their  race,  by  narrow,  insignificant 
people  who  are  incapable  of  loft}  thoughts,  but 
their  erring  conduct,   would  never  arouse  pre- 


THE  OZAB  AND  THE  CANTATRICE.  95 

judice  within  me.  Oh,  no,  only  a  deep  pity  for 
their  ignorance.  However,  I  feel  I  would  never 
marry  a  Gentile  for  the  simple  reason,  that  I  con- 
tend, that  every  one  should  marry  within  the 
bounds  of  his  own  religion,  so  that  between  hus- 
band, and  wife,  there  should  not  exist  the  slightest 
shadow  of  a  thought,  apart  from  each  other.  To 
my  idea,  true  marriage  means,  the  same  views,  the 
same  feelings,  the  same  desires,  the  same  aims." 

"  Two  souls  with  but  a  single  thought, 
Two  hearts  that  beat  as  one." 

"  Ah,"  she  sighed,  "  if  I  could  only  meet  a  man 
of  my  own  religion,  for  whom  my  heart  would 
throb,  and  who  would  sincerely  love  me  in  re- 
turn, what  a  truly  happy  couple  we  should  be ! 
to  build  one's  own  little  Paradise,  with  each 
other's  love,  and  both  live  there — sheltered  from 
the  world's  cares ! " 

"  You  ask,"  he  gravely  replied,  "  for  what  people 
seldom  get!" 

"  Is  my  desire  so  unreasonable  a  one  ?"  she  de- 
manded in  sweet,  plaintive  tones. 

"No,  far  from  it,"  he  answered,  "and  happy 
the  mortal  who  shall  ever  have  the  right  to  call 
you  his — but, "  and  he  paused,  sadly  looking  at 
her,  "But " 

"But?"  she  queried. 

"  The  truth  is, "  he  replied,  "  that  women  like 
you,  women  who  harbor  your  noble  ideas,  regard- 
ing love,  and  marriage,  are  doomed  to  many 
severe  disappointments  of  the  heart." 


96  qelta:  or, 

"  And  why  9  "  she  asked,  "  why  ?  " 

"  Why  ?  because  we  very  rarely  find,  that,  which 
we  are  anxiously  seeking.  For  example,  if  I  could 
feel  that  there  would  be  a  possible  chance,  of 
ever  winning  you,  for  my  wife ;  I  would  become 
that  which  you  would  have  me  be !  I  would  not 
leave  a  stone  unturned,  until  I  had  succeeded ; 
and  if  your  faith  stood  against  me,  why  I  would 
at  once  embrace  Judaism,  for,  you  know,  I  have 
Jewish  blood  in  me,  my  cherished  mother  having 
been  a  noble  daughter  of  the  House  of  Israel ! N 

"  Yes,  I  know, "  she  dreamily  interposed,  while 
the  face  that  had  for  several  months  occupied  her 
mind's  eye  was  irresistably  drawing  her  towards 
him.  "  I  know,"  she  answered  with  sweet,  sad 
voice,  •'  you  are  devoted  to  me,  I  look  upon  you 
almost  as  a  father,  for  you  are  about  his  age  had 
he  lived — but  pray,  never,  never  speak  to  me  of 
love  again ! " 

"  You  see, "  he  murmured  slowly,  "  the  heart 
can  never  get  that  which  it  really  yearns  for, " 
and  with  a  tinge  of  hopeless  despair  in  his  voice, 
he  said,  "henceforth  I  will  visit  you  less  fre- 
quently ;  in  fact,  I  will  see  as  little  of  you  as  pos- 
sible— but  always  remember  this,"  he  continued, 
with  suppressed  emotion,  "no  matter  at  what 
future  time,  or  in  whatever  part  of  the  world,  you 
may  be,  I  will  always  watch  over  you ;  and  if  you 
should  ever  need  the  council,  or  help,  of  a  true, 
devoted  friend,  you  may  always  rely  on  me.  Let 
us  at  least  agree  upon  one  point,  and  that  is,  that 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRICE.  97 

although  you  will  seldom  or  never  hear  from  me 
direct,  still,  I  want  you  to  feel  sure  of  my  un- 
swerving love,  pardon,  I  mean  devotion,  which 
will  only  terminate,  with  life  itself. "  Then  he 
clasped  her  hand  which  he  held  in  silence  for  a 
few  moments,  and  reverently  imprinting  a  fare- 
well upon  it  with  his  lips,  he  quickly  left  the 
room. 

During  all  this  Gelta  had  sat  quiet,  without 
interrupting  him,  and  now  that  he  was  gone,  a 
deep  melancholy  pervaded  her  being,  as  she 
silently  mused,  "  another  friend  lost ! "  and  then 
she  mentally  asked  herself,  "  why  is  it  that  a  man 
can  talk  of  the  deepest,  holiest,  feeling,  love !  and 
as  soon  as  he  finds  it  is  not  reciprocated,  instead 
of  accepting  the  friendship,  which  his  loved  object 
offers  him,  instead  of  being  content,  to  be  near  the 
one,  whom  he  sincerely  declares  he  loves,  he  flies 
from  her,  abandons  her,  to  all  the  dangers  of  the 
world ;  never  intends  to  approach  her  again !  and 
this  is  what  man  calls  real  love.  Well ! "  she 
concluded,  "  the  man  in  love  who  flies  from  the  ob- 
ject of  his  heart,  can  only  be  one  of  two  things,  a 
coward,  or  a  philosopher,  the  former,  because  he 
shrinks  from  pain,  or  the  latter,  because  he  has 
the  power  to  persuade  himself,  that  the  love, 
which  has  just  been  refused  to  him,  he  will  be 
able  to  find  elsewhere." 


98  gelta:  or, 


CHAPTEE  XII. 

What  a  mystery  is  love  !  All  the  necessities  and 
habits  of  our  life  sink  before  it.  Food  and  sleep 
that  seem  to  divide  our  beings,  as  day  and  night 
divide  time,  lose  all  their  influence  over  the  lover. 
He  is  a  spiritualized  being,  fit  only  to  live  upon 
ambrosia,  and  slumber  in  an  imaginary  Paradise. 
The  cares  of  the  world  do  not  touch  him,  its  most 
stirring  events  are  to  him  but  the  dusty  incidents 
°*  by-gone  annals.  All  the  fortunes  of  the  world 
without  his  mistress  are  misery,  and  with  her  all 
its  mischances  a  transient  dream !  O!  Lovet  ia 
vain  they  moralize;  in  vain  they  teach  us  that 
thou  art  a  delusion ;  in  vain  they  dissect  thine  in- 
spiring sentiment ;  and  would  mortify  us  into 
misery  by  its  degrading  analysis.  The  sage  may 
announce  that  gratified  vanity  is  thine  aim  and 
end,  but  the  lover  glances  with  contempt  at  his 
cold  blooded  philosophy.  Nature  assures  him 
thou  art  a  beautiful  and  sublime  emotion ;  and  he 
answers,  "  Canst  thou  deprive  the  sun  of  its  heat 
because  thou  canst  analyze  its  effulgence?"  A 
man  in  love  wanders  in  the  world,  as  a  som- 
nambulist with  eyes  that  seem  open  to  those  that 
watch  him ;  yet  in  fact  view  nothing,  but  their 
own  inward  fancies. 

Upon  Count  VaricofFs  return  home,  he  had  de- 
termined to  forget  this  beautiful  young  girl,  who 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRICE.       99 

had  so  suddenly  entered  the  inner  chamber  of  his 
heart,  since  not  knowing  even  her  name,  he  did 
not  know  where  to  search  for  her.  He  spent  his 
days  diligently  attending  to  important  State  mat- 
ters, and  his  evenings  were  spent  in  a  whirl  of 
social  entertainments.  But  suddenly  in  the  midst 
of  most  important  business,  his  mind's  eye  would 
see  the  face,  he  was  striving  to  forget. 

In  the  evening,  while  attending  the  opera,  or  a 
banquet,  or  perhaps  dancing  with  some  fair  Kus- 
sian  belle,  at  one  of  the  brilliant  Court  balls ;  her 
face  would  always  present  itself,  and  all  else  be- 
came a  blank.  She  was  constantly  before  him,  at 
night  in  his  dreams,  until  he  became  enraged 
with  anger,  and  would  almost  strike  her,  for  haunt- 
ing him,  then  a  minute  later  he  would  stretch 
out  his  hands  imploring  her  forgiveness,  and 
burst  into  a  torrent  of  tears;  as  if  his  heart  had 
exploded. 

At  the  end  of  three  months,  he  confessed  to 
himself,  that  he  had  never  known  until  then,  the 
depth  of  his  own  feelings,  in  thinking  he  could 
forget  her!  "No,"  he  mentally  concluded,  "  why 
wish  to  root  out  the  feeling  he  had  for  her? 
which,  even  hopeless  as  it  was,  filled  him  with  so 
exquisite  an  emotion.  No ! "  he  philosophically 
mused,  "life  is  too  short,  too  mechanical,  to  let  a 
divine  emotion  escape  one's  soul,  while  dallying 
with  reason.  The  fact  is,"  he  concluded,  "  when 
a  thrill  of  warmth  has  entered  the  soul  to  stir  its 
slumbering  energies,  the  cause  of  that  emotion 


100  GELTA  :  OR, 

should  be  guarded,  and  cherished  with  true  de- 
votion, till  the  fire  of  love  bursts  into  a  flame. 
Its  intense  heat  will  of  course  scorch  the  soul, 
but  then  it  will  glow  with  passion  forever." 

Of  late  Count  Varicoff  had  remained  in  his 
apartment  during  his  leisure  hours,  he  gave  out 
that  he  was  writing  a  book  on  his  theories  of  ex- 
ercising one's  will  upon  another's  even  at  a  dis- 
tance, by  simply  concentrating  one's  own  will  and 
thoughts  upon  the  object.  Such  was  his  excuse 
for  not  wanting  to  be  intruded  upon.  He  loved 
to  surround  himself  by  an  intense  solitude,  where 
he  could  absolutely  concentrate  his  whole  heart, 
soul,  and  brain,  upon  his  fair  incognita.  In  his 
theory  of  overpowering  another's  will-power  to 
one's  own,  he  felt  convinced,  that  if  from  the  depth 
of  his  soul,  he  should  call  her,  she  would  be  irre- 
sistibly drawn  towards  him,  and  in  that  case,  she 
would  one  day  cross  his  path,  perhaps  soon,  it  all 
depended  upon  the  amount  of  determined  will,  he 
would  be  able  to  command,  over  her  actions. 
One  April  he  was  sitting  far  into  the  night,  his  low 
arm  chair  drawn  close  to  the  fire  for  the  night 
was  still  chilly.  He  took  her  letter  from  out  his 
bosom  and  read  it,  as  he  had  done  so  many  times 
since  their  meeting,  lie  seemed  to  see  strange 
objects,  through  the  smoke  of  his  cigarette.  How 
he  would  dream  for  hours,  always  thinking,  think- 
ing, thinking,  trying  to  penetrate  into  the  mys- 
terious future,  and  calling  from  out  his  soul  to 
her,  'till  at  times,  he  became  bewildered  with  ec- 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRJOE.  Wl 

staoy;  then  his  mind  would -see  her  loving,  trust- 
ing face,  and  a  soothing  calmness  would  pervade 
the  fever  of  his  soul ;  and  he  would  retire,  with 
the  conviction,  that  she  would  obey  his  will,  and 
come  to  him. 


CHAPTEE  XIII 

It  was  the  beginning  of  the  month  of  June. 
Paris  was  crowded  with  continental  visitors.  The 
eve  of  summer  was  robed  in  nature's  lovliest  garb, 
the  weather  was  most  enchanting,  the  race  would 
be  sure  to  be  a  great  success  and  everybody  who 
was  somebody,  and  those  who  were  nobody,  all 
were  in  great  readiness  to  be  seen,  and  to  see  the 
grand  prix.  Another  month  and  all  the  promi- 
nent theatres  would  be  closed  until  the  next  sea- 
son. Paris,  the  gay,  and  sparkling,  the  witty,  the 
brilliant,  Paris,  which  for  philosophically  grasp- 
ing the  brightness  of  life,  stands  pre-eminent 
among  the  capitals;  was  now  in  the  height  of  its 
glory.  Gay  speeches  and  silver  ripples  of  laughter 
constantly  broke  on  the  resonant  air,  and  were 
wafted  back  by  the  merry  atmosphere  that  lov- 
ingly encircled  enchanted  Paris.  Amid  all  this 
over-bubbling  of  life  Gelta  felt  an  icy  inward  de- 
pression, not  that  she  courted  that  melancholy 
feeling,  on  the  contrary,  when  Count  Boroffsky 
had  interpreted  the  feeling  which  had  come  over 
her,  ever  since  her  return  from  London;  when  the 


102  ,   f  GELTA  :  OR, 

Oounf  had  Suddenly  surprised  her  by  telling  her 
that  she  was  in  love !  Gelta  had  then  and  there 
made  a  determination,  that  if  such  were  really  the 
case,  the  feeling  must  be  nipped  in  the  bud,  for 
she  was  too  intelligent,  and  too  reasonable,  to 
foster  a  love  for  a  man,  of  whom  she  knew  noth- 
ing, and  especially,  one,  who  had  always  harbored 
prejudiced  feelings  against  her  race.  For  several 
months  during  the  interval  of  the  different  operas, 
in  the  hours  of  her  leisure,  she  was  constantly 
moving  about;  first  she  would  be  seen  at  some  of 
the  select  balls,  with  sparkling  eyes  and  laughing 
mien,  appearing  to  be  plunged  deepest  in  its  mirth, 
then  again  at  some  of  the  grand  dinners  she  would 
delight  and  fascinate  with  her  brilliant  wit,  all 
those  about  her,  and  so  her  leisure  moments  were 
taken  up  encountering  the  gayeties  of  the  season, 
in  order  to  fly  from  herself.  But  it  was  useless, 
for  when  she  appeared  to  be  enjoying  herself  the 
most,  her  poor  heart  felt  an  icy  numbness,  for 
very  often  midst  the  gayest  scenes,  her  mind's  eye 
would  suddenly  conjure  up  some  of  the  heart- 
crushing  scenes  which  she  had  witnessed  amongst 
the  poor  in  the  East  of  London,  and  she  would 
draw  instant  comparisons,  and  ponder,  over  the 
fact,  that  if  only  this  gay  crowd  had  a  little  less 
of  the  luxuries,  and  the  poor  a  few  more  of  the 
necessities  of  life,  how  much  greater,  and  more 
equal,  would  the  human  happiness  have  been 
distributed  all  over  the  world,  and  then  the  feel- 
ing would  come  over  her,  that  whilst  so  many 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRICE.  103 

millions  of  human  hearts  were  suffering  the  throes 
of  want,  it  was  a  sin,  to  be  so  thoughtlessly 
merry,  without  pausing  to  consider,  to  pray  for 
them,  without  each  person  willingly  offering  his 
mite,  to  help  to  bring  a  ray  of  sunshine  to  those 
who  are  crushed  and  weary. 

The  Russian  Jews  were  especially  in  her 
thoughts ;  every  morning's  paper  bore  witness  of 
fresh  cruelties.  Gradually  the  idea,  that  had 
already  crossed  her  mind,  the  idea  of  going 
out  to  Russia  with  a  faint  hope  of  being 
able  to  achieve  something  by  her  personal  in- 
fluence, began  to  take  shape. 

A  voice  spoke  within  her,  asking  her  whether 
she  really  was  as  helpless  as  she  thought?  Per- 
haps she  might  encourage  the  oppressed  with 
hopes  of  a  new  land,  possibly  she  might  try  to 
gain  the  ear  of  the  imperial  family,  and  plead,  on 
behalf,  of  her  misjudged,  and  persecuted  people. 

No  sooner  had  this  last  idea  taken  hold  of  her 
than  it  seemed  to  shape  itself  into  a  fixed  duty. 
The  more  she  thought  of  the  matter,  the  more 
fixed  became  her  sudden  determination  that  she 
must  go! 

Gelta  was  a  girl  who  when  once  she  had  de- 
cided upon  a  plan  of  action  set  about  immediately 
in  a  practical  manner  to  attain  her  aim.  She 
therefore  wrote  to  the  manager  of  the  St.  Peters- 
burg opera  house,  who  had  made  her  at  various 
times  advantageous  offers  to  visit  St.  Petersburg; 
the  director  Baron  de  Sucoffsky,  was  only  too  de- 


104  gelta:  or, 

lighted  to  hear  that  this  gifted  singer  had  re- 
considered her  former  decisions,  and  matters  were 
soon  concluded  to  the  intense  satisfaction  of  both 
parties  in  particular,  and  St.  Petersburg  society 
in  general. 

One  morning  Count  Boroffsky  was  surprised  to 
see  the  following  paragraph  in  one  of  the  leading 
daily  papers : 

M  Miss  Gelta  Dechon  leaves  at  the  end  of  the  present  month 
for  St.  Petersburg,  where  on  the  6th  she  is  to  sing  in  *  Mignon,' 
and  'Esclarmonde,'  before  the  Ozar  and  imperial  family.  She 
returns  to  Paris  early  in  April." 

Count  Boroffsky  immediately  called  with  the  in- 
tention of  congratulating  her  upon  her  decision ; 
but  her  maid  informed  him  that  her  mistress  was 
not  at  home,  he  understood  her  meaning,  and 
Gelta  felt  relieved  at  having  once  and  forever 
convinced  him,  that  although  she  expected  to  go 
to  St.  Petersburg,  she  would  have  nothing  to  do 
with  Nihilism;  or  its  encouragers.  She  received 
a  long  letter  the  next  morning  from  Boroffsky, 
wherein  he  assured  her  that  his  love  for  her 
would  be  everlasting,  and  though  she  seemed  in- 
different to  him,  he  would  always  watch  over,  and 
shield  her  from  all  dangers ;  also  informing  her 
that  he  was  by  the  same  mail  writing  to  a  number 
of  his  friends  who  were  in  the  elite  of  Russian 
society,  and  that  her  welcome  there  would  be  an 
assured  success.  "Without  troubling  the  reader 
with  an  account  of  the  voyage  to  St.  Petersburg, 
as  all  travels  present  pretty  much  the  same 
features,  we  will  observe  only,  that  about  the 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRICE.  105 

middle  of  November,  two  weeks  before  her  ex- 
pected debut,  Gelta  arrived  in  the  capitol  of  Eussia. 
A  suite  of  rooms  were  in  readiness  for  her  at  the 
Hotel  de  l'Europe.  One  thing  she  determined 
upon;  to  economize  in  her  expenses  as  much  as 
possible,  and  devote  to  the  poor  whatever  she 
could  spare. 

After  a  few  days  rest  she  drove  to  the  American 
Legation  and  paid  her  respects  to  the  stars  and 
stripes.  No  sooner  had  it  become  known  that 
she  was  in  the  city  of  the  Czar,  than  society  over- 
whelmed' her  with  their  visits  and  invitations. 

The  American  Minister  gave  a  grand  dinner  in 
her  honor  and  there  she  met  the  elite  of  the  city, 
including  some  members  of  the  imperial  house- 
hold. One  of  the  guests  there,  an  immense 
favorite  in  the  Minister's  family,  was  an  English 
lady  of  middle  age,  whose  husband  was  attached 
to  the  British  Embassy ;  and  who  had  resided  in 
Eussia  for  about  ten  years.  A  Mrs.  Wilson. 
Mrs.  Wilson  was  immediately  fascinated  with 
her  beautiful  American  cousin,  and  Gelta  recipro- 
cated the  feeling.  So  she  finally  accepted  Mrs. 
Wilson's  very  kind  offer,  to  show  her  the  different 
sights  of  interest  in  St.  Petersburg. 

Gelta  was  greatly  disappointed  with  her  first 
view  of  the  Capitol.  From  the  extraordinary  ac- 
counts she  had  so  often  read  of  its  magnificence, 
she  was  certainly  led  to  expect  something  infinitely 
more  grand. 

A  drive  of  half  an  hour  enabled  Gelta  and  her 


106  GELTA  I  OB, 

friend  to  pass  through  all  the  best  parts  of  the 
city.  It  is  true  that  in  one  tableau  were  assem- 
bled a  number  of  splendid  buildings  such  as  few 
capitols  afford ;  and  to  Gelta's  outbursts  of  ad- 
miration, Mrs.  Wilson  quietly  remarked,  that  if 
within  the  same  space  were  collected  all  the  fine 
public  buildings  in  London,  with  all  the  advan- 
tages of  the  great  extent  of  ground  and  clear 
atmosphere,  enabling  the  visitor  to  obtain  an  un- 
obstructed view  of  their  various  beauties,  it  would 
be  easy  to  guess  which  would  present  the  more 
imposing  appearance ;  "  added  to  which "  con- 
tinued Mrs.  Wilson,  "  you  must  bear  in  miod  that 
the  edifices  in  St.  Petersburg  for  the  most  part  are 
only  of  brick  and  stucco.  That  this  assemblage 
of  all  that  is  splendid  in  the  city,  gives  it  at  first 
sight  a  magnificent  ensemble,  I  do  not  deny ;  but, 
like  everything  Russian,  the  showy  facade,  only 
hides,  what  is  mean  behind." 

After  this  summing  up  of  Russian  character, 
so  briefly  sketched  by  the  amiable  Mrs.  Wilson, 
Gelta  sat  for  some  time,  silently  musing  how  dis- 
agreeable it  must  be  to  have  to  reside  a  long  time 
amid  such  deceptions  :  they  drove  past  the  winter 
palace  facing  the  war  office.  In  the  intermediate 
space  stood  the  Alexander  column,  with  the 
bronze  angel  on  the  top,  whose  head  is  bowed  in 
adoration  and  who  bears  a  golden  cross  in  his 
arms.  Then  they  drove  through  the  large  square 
of  the  Admiralty,  where  stands  the  celebrated 
statue  of  the  Czar  Peter ;  on  their  left  hand  was 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRICE.  107 

the  ministerial  and  judicial  department.  Behind 
the  statue  was  the  magnificent  Isaac  Church, 
whose  great  golden  dome,  seemed  glaringly  to 
mock  poverty's  uplifted  gaze.  On  the  bank  of 
the  Neva  opposite  to  this  edifice,  were  the 
University  and  the  Academy  of  Fine  Arts,  the 
latter  a  large  and  handsome  square  building. 
The  object  that  attracted  Gelta's  attention  the 
most,  were  the  granite  quays,  with  which  the 
Neva,  and  the  canals  are  bordered,  and  which 
must  have  cost  incalcuable  trouble,  and  an  im- 
mense expenditure  both  of  treasure  and  human 
life,  in  their  construction. 

They  visited  during  the  next  few  days  the  many 
places  of  note,  such  as  Peter's  Museum,  the 
Academy  of  Science,  the  Palace  of  the  Hermitage, 
the  Monastery  of  Alexander  Nevsky,  etc.  In  the 
first  of  these  (Peter's  Museum),  Gelta  felt  a  vivid 
interest  as  sh  3  gazed  at  the  many  relics  of  the  Czar 
after  whom  it  is  named;  many  of  them  were  the  work 
of  his  or/n  hands,  models  of  ships,  a  chandelier, 
some  iron  articles,  shoes,  and  little  ivory  figures. 
There  were  also  his  tools,  and  instruments,  care- 
fully preserved  under  a  glass  case.  In  another 
apartment  was  the  effigy  of  the  great  Peter  him- 
self, modeled  in  wax,  habited  in  one  of  his  own 
court  dresses,  having  shoes  on  that  he  himself 
had  made,  and  wearing  his  own  natural  hair  made 
into  a  wig.  Unlike  the  Russians  generally,  he 
had  dark  eyes  and  hair,  and  his  features  had 
more  of  the  southern  cast,  than  of  the  northern. 


108  gelta:  or, 

As  Gelta  stood  silently  gazing  at  the  effigy  of 
one,  who  during  his  life-time  had  conquered 
nations,  and  bowed  adverse  circumstances  to  his 
iron  will,  she  could  not  help  pondering  on  what 
a  complex  character  his  had  been,  horribly, 
brutal  and  proud,  and  then  amazingly  humble. 
At  one  time  he  would  sally  forth  into  the  street, 
and  decapitate,  with  his  own  sword,  a  dozen,  or 
more  unfortunates,  who  had  been  condemned  to 
death ;  then  he  would  go  into  a  poor  cobbler's 
shop,  and  set  about  learning  the  trade,  and  asso- 
ciated with  the  humblest;  then  again  a  fit  of 
ambition  would  lead  him  to  have  his  only  son 
imprisoned,  and  then  done  to  death — in  order  that 
the  Russians,  should  look  up  to  him  alone,  and 
again  he  would  be  seen  mingling,  with  the  com- 
mon laborers  in  the  dock  yards,  modelling  ships, 
and  trying  to  impart  to  them  the  knowledge  he 
had  gained,  during  the  time  he  had  been  Queen 
Elizabeth's  guest,  when  he  visited  England, 
expressly  to  gain  an  insight,  into  English  ship- 
building. And  as  Gelta  stood  gazing  at  the  few 
faded  vestiges  of  what  had  once  been  filled  with 
so  much  arrogance,  ambition,  and  brutality,  she 
sighed  again,  and  could  not  help  from  reflecting 
upon  the  futile  attempts,  of  such  poor  deluded  men, 
whose  only  aim  in  life,  is,  to  make  their  fellow 
beings,  cringe  before  them,  as  if  royal  clay  were  of 
a  different  kind,  an  everlasting  one,  and  had  naught 
in  common  with  the  ordinary  mortals,whom  they 
daily  encounter.    Alas !  for  poor  proud  humanity. 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRICE.  109 

"  My  dear,"  said  Mrs.  Wilson  with  a  smile, 
arousing  Gelta  from  her  musing,  "  Peter's  effigy 
will  keep,  but  the  weather  may  not,  and  as  this 
is  a  particularly  fine  morning,  let  us  take  a  walk 
down  the  Nevsky  Perspective,  the  finest  and  most 
fashionable  street  in  St.  Petersburg." 

And  so  they  sallied  forth.  Meanwhile  Gelta 
was  remarking  the  grotesque  carricatures  over- 
hanging the  doors  of  the  different  shops  and 
commenting  on  the  same  to  her  friend. 

"Yes,"  answered  Mrs.  Wilson,  "the  shops  or 
magazines,  as  they  are  called  here,  to  distinguish 
them  from  the  common  Eussian  warehouses,  in 
the  Gostinoi  Dwor,  all  have  sign  boards,  with  the 
articles  their  proprietors  sell,  painted  thereon — a 
proof  of  the  ignorance,  for  if  the  people  could 
read,  such  paintings  would  not  be  necessary." 

"  How  dreadful  it  must  be,"  Gelta  interposed, 
"  to  come  in  contact  with  so  much  ignorance." 

"  Hush,  my  dear,"  Mrs.  Wilson  quickly  replied, 
meanwhile  cautiously  looking  back  to  see  whether 
some  one  had  not  overheard  the  remark.  "  You 
must  be  very,  very  careful  while  in  Eussia,  as  to 
how  you  express  yourself,  and  especially  so,  in 
writing  to  your  friends  abroad,  for  most  of  the  mail 
is  opened — and  a  correspondence  which  does  not 
coincide  with  the  ideas  of  the  Eussian  police,  is 
treated  with  the  severest  measures  in  the  name 
of  the  Czar.  But  above  all  things,  don't  forget 
what  I  told  you — when  three  persons  meet  to- 
gether in  Eussia,  you  may  safely  count  one  of 


110  gelta:  or, 

them  as  a  spy.  A  young  gendarme  officer  used  to 
visit  at  the  house  of  one  of  our  acquaintances ; 
his  presence  always  produced  restraint,  as  the 
officers  are  obliged  in  duty  bound,  to  report 
whatever  they  may  hear.  Apropos  of  the  spy 
system,"  continued  Mrs.  Wilson,  "  I  know  from 
good  authority  that,  besides  the  secret  police, 
there  are  one  hundred  and  twenty  thousand  paid 
agents  in  this  country,  among  whom,  to  their 
shame  be  it  spoken,  are  many  women.  Even 
some  of  the  French  milliners  in  St.  Petersburg 
have  the  reputation  of  being  agents  of  police; 
for  these  marchandes  de  modes,  have  free  admis- 
sion to  the  masquerades,  theatres,  etc.,  where 
they  can  exercise  their  detective  talents.  It  is  no 
exaggeration  to  say  that  a  Russian  subject  scarcely 
dares  to  utter  his  true  sentiments,  even  to  his  own 
brother,  or  familiar  friend.  I  am  sure  that  I 
have  often  been  present  at  conversations,  in 
which  perhaps  four  or  five  would  be  taking  part, 
each  knowing  that  his  neighbor  was  telling  a  lie, 
and  avowing  sentiments,  exactly  contrary,  to 
those  he  felt.  Yet  the  subject  under  considera- 
tion, would  be  discussed,  with  all  the  gravity, 
and  seriousness,  of  entire  conviction.  What 
standard  of  morality  can  we  expect,  from  a  nation 
where  the  government  robs  the  masses  of  their 
hard-earned  gains,  in  order  to  pay,  and  maintain, 
a  regiment  of  spies,  who  are  there,  to  hound  them 
to  death?  Of  course  I  would  under  no  con- 
sideration express  my  thoughts  to  anyone  else, 


THE  CZAB  AND  THE  CANTATEICE.  Ill 

for  although  our  meeting  has  been  but  of  a  few 
days  ago,  I  feel  that  we  have  known  each  other 
for  ever  so  long,  from  the  descriptions  I  have  re- 
ceived, concerning  jour  lovely  character,  and 
noble  sentiments  from  our  mutual  friend." 

Gelta  turned  to  her  chaperone  with  a  look  of 
surprised  inquiry. 

"  Count  Boroffsky,"  replied  Mrs.  Wilson  with 
a  smile. 

"Oh,  yes,"  Gelta  answered  slowly  after  a 
moment's  reflection  for  she  felt  that  silence  would 
now  be  dangerous  ;  "  Yes,  the  Count  is  one  of  my 
many  Parisian  admirers,'  for  a  sudden  thought 
had  flashed  through  her  mind,  that  her  chaperone 
might  be  involved  with  the  Count,  in  some 
Nihilistic  plot,  or  she  might  be  totally  innocent, 
of  his  conspiracies.  She  might  simply  be  a  friend. 
But  the  germ  of  suspicion,  having  entered  her 
mind,  Gelta  at  once  determined,  to  guard  against 
her  new  made  friend.  Hence  it  shows,  that  the 
Russian  air,  through  its  present  mode  of  govern- 
ment, is  impregnated  with  suspicion,  and  it  is 
difficult  to  be  within  its  bounds,  if  only  for  a  few 
clays,  without  being  reduced,  to  closely  hiding 
one's  inner  thoughts,  from  the  view  of  one's  best 
friends. 

Gelta  and  her  chaperone  were  now  sauntering 
along  the  Nevsky  Perspective.  It  was  crowded 
with  belles  and  beaux,  all  anxious  to  display  the 
newest  fashions  from  Paris.  The  innumeraole 
officers  kept  lounging  about,  equally  desirous  of 


112  GELTA  !  OE, 

admiration.  Gelta  was  closely  veiled  and  begged 
her  friend  not  to  stop  to  talk  to  any  of  the  numer- 
ous acquaintances  to  whom  Mrs.  Wilson  was 
busily  kept  nodding,  as  she  did  not  desire  to  be 
introduced  to  them,  until  after  her  debut.  After  a 
half  an  hour's  stroll  along  the  crowded  avenue, 
they  decided  to  return  home;  Gelta  having  re- 
fused to  dine  that  evening  with  the  Wilson's, 
promised  to  be  in  readiness,  the  next  morning,  in 
order  to  walk  through  the  Petersburgskaia 
Storooa,  where  the  Jews  are  located. 

About  noon  the  next  morning,  Gelta  with  her 
diaper  one  were  walking  down  the  Jewish  ghetto. 
The  rickety  dwellings  appeared  to  be  guarded  by 
the  spirit  of  heaviness,  who  had  written  upon  the 
door  posts  the  word,  "  desolate."  They  passed 
through  the  Hebrew  quarters ;  nearly  every  house 
in  which  consisted  of  a  bazaar,  or  small  shop. 
The  scene  did  not  differ  materially  from  the  poor 
Jewish  quarters  in  London,  except  in  the  haunted 
expressions  which  the  Jews  had  in  their  wan  care- 
worn, faces,  as  they  suspiciously  eyed  any  stranger 
who  might  be  passing  through ;  and  very  often 
Gelta  heard  the  password  in  Hebrew  quickly 
wafted  from  neighbor  to  neighbor  (Steika  speion) 
— (hush  spies),  and  then  they  all  would  gaze  with 
terrified  looks  after  the  retreating  strangers,  and 
wonder  what  new  catastrophe,  was  about  to  be 
hurled  at  them,  to  emphasize,  the  Russian  Chris- 
tian's hatred ;  for  these  poor  people  realize,  that 
they  live  on  the  thin  crust  of  a  volcano,  which 


THE   CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRICE.  113 

might  explode,  at  any  moment,  and  scatter  them 
to  the  winds.  Gelta  often  dropped  a  few  silver 
coins  into  the  hands  of  some  old  or  blind  mendi- 
cant, but  the  Jews  only  eyed  her  with  more  sus- 
picion, for  as  they  did  not  take  her  to  be  a  Jewess, 
they  knew  from  bitter  past,  experiences,  that  they 
need  not  expect  a  kindness,  from  a  Russian  Chris- 
tian, who  never  loses  an  opportunity,  of  express- 
ing his  intense  hatred  for  them. 

After  a  couple  of  hours  spent  amid  these  poor 
unhappy  Jews,  Gelta  with  her  friend,  returned  to 
the  hotel.  Her  heart  was  filled  with  sadness  as 
she  remembered  the  haunted,  persecuted  look 
stamped  on  the  weary  faces  of  the  House  of 
Israel.  She  mentally  determined  after  the  first 
week  of  her  debut,  to  revisit  the  place  alone,  and 
deposit  her  earnings  in  the  hands  of  the  Rabbi 
for  immediate  distribution. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

It  was  the  evening  of  Gelta's  debut.  She  was  to 
impersonate  "Mignon."  The  house  was  beauti- 
fully lit  up,  and  the  boxes  all  decorated.  The 
vast  auditorium  presented  a  sea  of  faces,  the  ladies 
all  attired  in  the  latest  Parisian  creations  ;  their 
low  cut  bodices  studdied  with  precious  stones, 
their  throats  and  hair  glittering  with  diamonds. 
The  gentlemen  in  their  military  attire,  with  breast 


114  gelta:  or, 

coats  literally  covered  with  the  numerous  decora- 
tions conferred  upon  them  by  the  Eussian  court, 
presented  a  very  handsome  and  imposing  specta- 
cle. The  American  and  English  nations  were 
well  represented  by  their  respective  ambassadors. 
The  performance  was  about  to  begin,  the  murmur 
of  suppressed  voices  that  swayed  the  house,  de- 
noted with  what  curiosity,  and  intense  interest, 
the  entree  of  the  new  prima  donna  was  awaited. 
The  Emperor  and  the  members  of  the  imperial 
family  entered  the  royal  box,  the  orchestra 
struck  up  the  national  anthem ;  the  audience 
rose,  and  stood  with  bowed  heads  until 
the  last  notes  of  "  God  save  the  Czar,"  had  died 
away. 

The  Emperor  was  in  uniform,  covered  with 
jeweled  decorations,  and  looked  dignified  and 
commanding.  The  Empress,  in  a  peacock-green 
velvet  robe,  embroidered  with  sapphires,  rubies, 
and  pearls ;  a  tiara  of  diamonds  in  her  well-ar- 
ranged coiffure ;  her  white  throat  encircled  by  a 
stream  of  emeralds ;  looked  magnificent,  and  had 
a  touch  of  that  wondrous,  delicate  beauty,  with 
which  her  sister  in  England  is  so  happily  en- 
dowed. The  Grand  Duchess  Xenie  looked  most 
charming  in  a  simple  gown,  of  white  crepe  de 
chin,  studded  all  over  with  tiny  silver  stars,  her 
girlish  throat  and  head  being  ornamented  with 
many  strings  of  pearls ;  in  the  back  of  the  box 
stood  several  other  members  of  the  royal  family ; 
his  Majesty  recognized  with  a  military  salute  the 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRICE.  115 

foreign  Diplomats,  and  then  gave  the  signal  to 
commence. 

Behind  the  curtain,  the  suppressed  animation 
and  excitement  was  equally  intense.  The  stage 
hands,  and  the  numerous  supernumeries,  during 
the  interval  of  suspense  between  the  finishing  of 
the  overture  and  the  rising  of  the  curtain,  were 
speculating  as  to  how  the  new  'prima  donna 
would  come  through  the  ordeal  of  her  first  en- 
trance— whether  she  would  be  overcome  by  ner- 
vousness, or  not;  she  was  still  so  very  young. 
Of  course,  the  rehearsals  had  gone  splendidly, 
and  then  she  had  appeared  in  Paris  with  such 
great  success.  But,  after  all,  the  voice  is  so 
treacherous  ;  one  can  never  be  sure,  one  moment, 
from  the  other,  that  one's  voice  will  be  able  to 
reach  certain  notes,  at  certain  required  moments  I 
undue  agitation,  a  sudden  draught,  a  too  passion- 
ate conception  of  the  part,  this,  and  many  other 
imperceptible  causes,  might  leave  one  voiceless,  for 
the  time  being. 

The  manager,  Baron  Sucoffsky,  was  hurrying 
to  and  fro  with  suppressed  excitement,  endeavor- 
ing to  impress  on  the  different  singers  not  to  be 
nervous ;  then  running  here  and  there  personally 
to  assure  himself  that  nothing  had  been  over- 
looked, finally  he  retired  to  the  box-office,  where 
his  presence  was  in  great  demand. 

Gelta  was  sitting  in  her  dressing-room  ready  to 
go  on,  for  by  the  time  she  had  finished  dressing, 
she  had  reasoned  herself  into  a  calm  composure. 


116  gelta:  ob, 

She  had  taught  herself,  not  to  be  overwhelmed  by 
disheartening  failure,  or  to  lose  one's  equilibrium, 
through  grand  success  ;  since,  she  philosophically 
reasoned,  everything  vanishes  alike, with  a  few  fleet- 
ing years.  Thus  Gelta  Dechon  was  the  calmest  and 
most  composed  inwardly,  on  both  sides  of  the  cur- 
tain. 

Hush !  a  tap  at  the  door !  It  is  the  call-boy's 
voice.  A  moment  later  Gelta  sallies  forth  with 
true  Jewish  energy  and  American  determination, 
depicted  on  her  lovely  face.  The  look  of  the 
conqueror  is  stamped  upon  those  features,  and 
with  the  silent  vow,  "I  will  succeed"  trembling 
on  her  lips,  she  steps  into  the  cart  ready  to  be 
carried  on  before  the  audience.  A  cold  silence 
greets  her  as  Wilhelm  receives  her  from  the 
gypsies,  and  questions  her,  as  to  the  land  of  her 
nativity.  Her  youth  and  beauty  had  already 
made  a  profound  impression  upon  the  audience. 
Still  silence  reigns;  she  begins  the  well-known 
air,  "  Connais-tu  le  pays.  "  It  was  a  song,  which 
seemed  to  express  Gelta's  own  inmost  yearnings, 
her  vague  aspirations  after  that  ideal  land  of 
dreams,  which  always  eludes  our  awakening  eyes. 
"When  she  sang  it,  it  was  as  the  melody  of  her 
own  soul.  It  was  not  only  her  voice,  art,  beauty, 
youth  that  made  their  living  appeal,  it  was 
something  more,  something  indefinable  —  per- 
chance, that  yearning,  of  a  wandering  race,  for 
its  homeland.  And  something  in  all  souls, 
responded  to  her  own,  for  who  has  not  known 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE   OANTATRIOE.  117 

this  longing,  for  the  unattainable,  and  the  un- 
known ? 

The  Emperor  leans  forward;  the  harsh,  for- 
bidding expression,  which  covers  his  face  like  a 
strong  mask,  for  a  moment  vanishes.  A  faint 
smile  of  satisfaction  struggles  through  his  cold, 
grey  eyes ;  he  claps  his  hands ;  no  sooner  has  he 
done  so,  than  the  entire  audience  bursts  forth  into 
a  thunder  of  applause,  which  lasts  for  several 
minutes.  Gelta  is  kept  bowing  and  bowing;  a 
sudden  feeling  of  relief  has  come  over  her,  and  the 
tears  of  gratitude  well  up  into  her  eyes  for  having 
conquered  through  her  humble  efforts. 

In  the  imperial  box,  another  person  is  suddenly 
overwhelmed  with  feelings  of  gratitude  to  his 
Maker,  for  he  has  most  unexpectedly  recognized 
his  beautiful  incognita.  Count  Varicoff  stood  as 
if  transfixed ;  he  thought  it  was  all  a  sweet  dream ; 
he  did  not  move,  lest  he  should  break  the  en- 
chanted spell!  What  had  he  seen?  What 
ravishing  vision  had  arisen  upon  his  sight? 
What  did  he  feel  ?  What  wild,  what  delicious, 
what  maddening  impulse  now  pervaded  his 
frame  ?  A  storm  seemed  raging  his  soul — a 
mighty  wind  dispelling  in  its  course  the  sullen 
clouds  and  vapors  of  long  years.  A  sublime 
portal  of  love  opened  down  the  horizon ;  he 
stood  gazing  silently  indeed,  for  he  was  speech- 
less ;  though  the  big  drop  that  quivered  on  his 
brow  showed  how  much  his  self-suppression  was 
costing  him.    Voices  issuing  from  the  lips  of  his 


118  gelta:  or, 

relatives  reached  his  ear,  such  as,  "  Well,  she  is 
beautiful !  and  her  voice,  and  method,  are  exqui- 
site." "Report  in  her  case  for  once,  has  not 
exaggerated."  "  To-morrow  she  sings  in  Faust, 
we  must  hear  her  Marguerite."  These,  and  many 
other  flattering  remarks,  reached  him ;  he  heard 
some  one  ask  him  his  opinion ;  it  was  the  Grand 
Duchess  Xenie's  voice,  but  he  had  a  far  off  dis- 
tracted look,  as  he  answered  in  monosyllables;  so 
she  did  not  continue  her  remarks  to  him. 

How  strange  that  those  who  experience  the 
deepest  emotions,  are  for  the  moment  capable  of 
expressing  only  the  least ;  for  they  are  busy  lis- 
tening to  their  own  tumult  of  feeling. 

The  curtain  dropped,  the  entire  house  was 
agitated  with  enthusiasm  ;  the  verdict  was  unani- 
mous ;  everybody  agreed  with  everybody  else, 
that  the  American  nightingale,  for  youth,  beauty, 
and  voice  was  peerless  ;  nobody  could  refrain 
from  saying  something  flattering  concerning  the 
newcomer,  everyone,  except,  Count  Varicoff,  ex- 
pressed intense  delight ;  and  he,  in  whose  heart 
she  was  nearest,  he,  who  at  that  moment  was  the 
only  one  who  would  have  gladly  forfeited  his  very 
life  for  her  sake,  could  express  neither  by  look, 
nor  word,  the  unanimous  verdict  which  echoed 
through  the  house. 

That  night  Count  Varicoff  agitatedly  paced  up 
and  down  his  room,  revolving  in  his  mind 
whether  he  should  call  at  the  hotel  de  l'Europe 
and  send  up  his  card*  or  whether  he  should  wait 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRICE.  119 

and  trust  to  fortune  who  had  already  been  so  kind 
to  him.  He  did  not  think  it  diplomatic  simply 
to  send  up  his  card,  for  he  reasoned,  and  felt, 
that  she  would  refuse,  to  receive  him,  as  she  had 
in  London.  No !  he  could  not  face  such  a  risk, 
so  he  wisely  concluded  to  wait,  since  they  were 
bound  to  meet  at  some  social  gathering.  Five 
days  had  elapsed  and  still  Count  Varicoff  had  not 
had  the  opportunity  of  speaking  to  the  ideal  of 
his  dream.  His  patience  had  now  become  ex- 
hausted ;  for  five  days,  to  one  in  love,  without 
being  able  to  see  and  speak  to  one's  idol,  seemed 
like  five  centuries  of  burning  torture ;  and  so  the 
Count  determined  to  wait  no  longer,  for  early 
next  morning  he  called  at  the  office  of  the  direc- 
tor of  the  Opera  House.  Baron  de  Sucoffsky 
had  only  just  arrived,  and  was  busily  engaged  in 
opening  the  first  post's  mail,  when  he  was  sur- 
prised to  see  Count  Varicoff  honor  him  with  a 
matutinal  visit.  The  greetings  over,  Varicoff 
explained  in  a  few  brief  words  that  he  had  an 
important  message  from  a  friend  of  his  in  Paris, 
to  convey  to  Mademoiselle  Dechon,  and  that  he 
desired  the  Baron,  to  go  with  him  at  once,  to  the 
Hotel  de  l'Europe,  and  introduce  him  to  the  lady, 
and  then  leave  him  there  to  deliver  his  message. 
Of  course  Baron  Sucoffsky,  immediately  acqui- 
esced, and  whatever  suspicions  might  have  flashed 
through  his  mind,  that  his  august  visitor  had 
stronger  reasons  than  those  given  for  wishing  to 
be  introduced  to  the  beautiful  American,  he  did 


120  gelta:  or, 

not  dare  intimate  as  much,  either  by  look,  or 
word,  especially,  as  the  Count  remarked  "of 
course  my  calling  here  this  morning  Ca  reste  entre 
nous"\  The  Baron  understood  ai  once  that  the 
matter  was  to  remain  a  secret,  and  he  was  only 
too  happy  to  serve  those,  to  whom  he  had  many 
reasons  to  be  grateful. 


CHAPTER  XV 

With  Gelta  Dechon  it  was  the  same  old  story, 
there  is  nothing  like  success;  it  makes  success; 
she  had  become  the  social  lion  of  the  day,  for  as 
a  climax  to  all  compliments  paid  her,  the 
Emperor  did  Mad-  Dechon  the  honor  of  presenting 
the  Empress  to  her,  and  gracefully  led  Gelta  the 
night  before,  after  her  jewel  song  in  "Faust,"  to 
his  consort's  presence. 

The  elite  were  overwhelming  Gelta  with  in- 
vitations to  entertainments  and  dinners,  got  up 
in  her  honor.  Visitors  were  pouring  in  upon  her 
at  all  hours,  among  whom  could  be  seen  the 
proudest  princesses,  and  duchesses,  in  the  land ; 
all  rolling  up  in  their  equipages  bent  on  paying 
personal  homage  to  the  beautiful  American 
nightingale. 

Gelta  had  been  compelled  to  deny  herself  to 
most  of  these  well-intentioned  people,  and  the 
rehearsals,  and  performances,  were  offered  as  an 


THE  CZAR  AND   THE  CANTATRICE.  121 

excuse  for  refusals  to  see  the  numerous  visitors. 
Of  course  the  morning  in  question  when  Gelta 
received  the  director's  card,  she  gave  orders  that 
the  Baron  should  be  admitted  at  once,  and  that 
she  was  not  at  home  to  any  other  callers. 

She  was  sitting  at  the  piano  running  over  the 
ivory  keys  with  her  delicately  tapering  fingers, 
trying  to  connect  a  new  cadence,  which  had  oc- 
curred to  her  that  morning,  for  one  of  her  arias. 
Robed  in  a  beautiful  tea-gown  of  shimmering 
white  mousseline  de  sole,  her  lovely  dark  locks 
carelessly  held  together  by  an  amber  comb  of 
diadem  design,  her  clear  complexion  and  dark 
lustrous  eyes  heightened  by  the  color  of  her  robe, 
she  looked  as  she  sat  there,  wandering  over  the 
keys,  a  perfect  picture  of  graceful,  entrancing 
beauty,  the  ideal  of  a  poet  or  painter's  dream. 
She  recognized  Baron  Sucoffsky's  gentle  tap  at 
the  door. 

"  Entrez,  entrezl  "  she  cried  gaily  in  silvery  tones, 
without  turning  her  head  from  the  music  before 
her. 

The  Count's  good-natured  voice  was  soon  heard 
bubbling  over  with  compliments,  as  he  kissed 
her  hand  which  she  held  out  to  him  without  with- 
drawing her  eyes  from  the  notes  before  her. 

" Ma  chere  Mademoiselle" said  the  Baron,  " I  am 
on  my  way  to  the  Opera  House ;  I  have  only  a 
moment  to  spare,  but  I  was  passing  the  hotel, 
and  I  could  not  resist  for  just  one  short  moment, 
coming  and  enquiring  after  your  health*    Now,' ' 


122  GELTA  :  OR, 

he  continued,  "  that  you  have  set  all  St.  Peters- 
burg raving  over  you,  you  must  try  to  be  calm, 
and  take  some  rest,  don't  get  too  excited  and 
nervous,  for  you  know  that  it  is  very  bad  for  the 
voice." 

All  this  was  delivered  with  great  rapidity  of 
speech.  Meanwhile  Count  Varicoff  stood  gazing 
in  the  background  at  the  lovely  ideal  of  girlhood 
before  him,  and  as  he  drank  in  the  beautiful 
curves  of  her  symmetrical  form,  he  felt  a  mighty 
rush  of  emotion  shake  his  trembling  body,  as  if 
a  sharp  shock  of  electricity  had  coursed  through 
his  quivering  frame. 

After  pausing  a  second  in  his  speech,  the  Baron 
continued,  "  Allow  me  to  introduce  you  to  the 
Grand  Duke  Demetrius,  who  has  a  message  for 
you  from  one  of  your  Parisian  adorers."  Gelta 
for  the  first  time  turned  and  faced  her  visitors  ; 
and  she  beheld  Count  Varicoff!  Their  eyes  met, 
her  voice  trembled,  and  her  features  quivered 
with  suppressed  excitement,  as  the  surface  of  a 
lovely  lake  is  ruffled  by  sudden  winds.  She  ex- 
pressed herself  pleased  to  meet  the  Grand  Duke 
Demetrius. 

Baron  Sucoffsky,  deploring  once  more  his 
necessitated  haste,  made  his  exit;  the  door 
closed,  and  they  were  once  more  alone ! 

"  They  met,  as  two  leaves  floating  on  the  water, 
They  formed  a  friendship,  stronger  than  blood." 

Gelta  was  but  a  few  steps  from  him,  and  as  he 
caught  her  fond    smile,  which  was  struggling 


THE   CZAR  AND  THE   CANTATRICE.  123 

faintly  through  the  blushing  embarrassed  features; 
he  sprang  to  her  side  in  an  instant,  his  heart  beat 
so  tumultuously,  that  he  could  not  speak ;  he 
seized  with  a  trembling  touch  her  extended  hand 
and  gazed  upon  her  with  a  feeling  of  ecstacy. 

"  Oh,  you  are  so  beautiful,''  he  murmured. 

"How  strange,"  she  faintly  said,  "that  we 
should  have  ever  met." 

"  Indeed,"  he  replied,  "  I  think  it  most  natural. 
I  will  believe  it,"  he  continued,  "  to  be  the  fulfill- 
ment of  a  happy  destiny.  For  all  that  I  have 
sighed  for  now  I  meet,  and  more,  much  more  than 
my  imagination  could  ever  hope  for." 

"Only  think,"  she  softly  said,  "of  our  first 
meeting,  such  a  little  while  ago,  and  yet  it 
seems  an  age ;  I  will,  as  you  say,  believe  it 
was  Fate,  which  impelled  me  to  answer  you 
that  day  in  the  museum,  lest  you  should  think 
of  me—" 

"I  think  of  you  only,"  he  interrupted,  "as  the 
noblest  and  sweetest  of  beings,"  and  he  pressed 
her  hand  most  tenderly. 

Gelta  was  not  less  moved,  finding  herself  in  the 
very  presence  of  the  face  which  from  the  first 
meeting,  had  haunted  her,  and  which  for  months 
past  she  had  struggled  to  forget ;  and  now  as  he 
held  her  hand,  she  felt  a  chaos  of  strange  emotions 
sweep  over  her ;  she  stood  with  downcast  eyes, 
speechless. 

Then  with  the  impulsiveness  that  was  part  of 
his  nature,  he  abruptly  took  her  in  his  arms,  and 


124  gelta:  or, 

kissed  aer,  again  and  again,  with  an  amount  of 
nervous  energy  that  quite  startled  her. 

With  blazing  eyes  he  looked  into  her  exquisitely 
beautiful  face  that  had  paled  with  contending 
emotions.  She  tried  to  draw  away,  but  he  held 
her  fast,  she  cried — "  Let  me  go  "  with  a  deter- 
mination which  flushed  her  face  once  more,  and 
caused  her  eyes  to  glow  until  they  flashed  like 
stars,  and  those  wondrous  eyes  burned  into  his 
very  soul. 

"  You  must  respond  to  my  soul's  deep  yearn- 
ing," he  said  passionately.  "  You  must  give  me 
some  hope." 

"  It  cannot  be,"  she  sadly  answered,  "  it  is  im- 
possible, for  you  know  I  am  a  Jewess,  and  there- 
fore I  must  marry  one  of  my  creed." 

"  And  what  of  that  ?  Love  levels  all,  love  has  no 
creed,  it  sweeps  away  every  barrier  of  race  and 
faith.  For  you  I  will  renounce  everything  and 
will  become  your  slave  ! " 

"  Oh !  you  must  not  talk  thus,"  she  moaned. 
"  For  me  to  listen  to  such  words  of  love  in  these 
circumstances,  would  be  a  mortal  sin ;  pray  leave 
me,  give  me  time  to  think,  I  cannot  collect  my 
thoughts  at  present,  be  generous  and  leave  me. 
If  you  desire  my  friendship  you  shall  have  it,  but 
more  for  the  present,  I  cannot  promise.  Pray 
leave  me,  it  is  the  first  favor  I  ask  of  you,  do  be 
manly,  and  grant  it." 

She  had  spoken  hurriedly,  and  with  intense  ex- 
citement.   She  struggled  to  release  herself  as  a 


TAB  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRIOE.      125 

captured  bird  tries  to  free  itself  from  its  captor  ; 
there  was  such  a  mute  appeal  in  her  blanched  face, 
that  he  suddenly  let  her  go. 

"  Count,"  she  said  coldly,  suddenly  regaining 
her  self-composure,  "  hereafter  I  must  refuse  to 
see  you,  it  is  better  for  us  both."  And  before  he 
could  utter  a  word,  she  had  swept  from  the  room 
into  her  boudoir,  locking  the  door  after  her. 

He  had  no  alternative,  and  not  wishing  to  be 
seen  in  his  distracted  mood,  he  hurriedly  made 
his  exit,  and  then  drove  quickly  home.  When 
once  there,  he  shut  himself  up  in  his  rooms  and 
endeavored  to  think ;  he  cursed  his  impulsiveness 
and  lack  of  self-control,  for  he  was  tormented 
by  anger,  disappointment,  and  passion,  which 
wrapped  him  up  in  a  nest  of  knots  and  thorns, 
and  made  him  incapable  of  thinking.  For  he  was 
so  thoroughly  angry  with  himself  for  having 
frightened  her,  and  driven  her  from  his  presence. 
And  then  his  face  would  become  radiant  with 
hope,  for  he  knew  that  she  loved  him,  he  could 
tell  it  from  her  trembling  voice,  trying  to  hide  the 
emotion  that  surged  from  her  heart,  the  blood  that 
rushed  to  and  from  her  face,  all  told  its  tale  of  the 
depth  of  her  feelings  for  him,  and  he  well  re- 
membered her  confession  of  love  which  she  had 
made  in  the  first  and  only  letter  which  he  had  ever 
got  from  her,  in  London,  when,  she  thought  that 
they  would  never  meet  again ;  and  with  these 
thoughts  his  face  grew  bright,  and  his  heart  rackod 
by  tumultuous  passions,  grew  strong  once  more 


126  GELTA :  OR, 

with  hope.  He  had  thrown  himself  on  the  cotioh 
and  overcome  by  exhaustion,  fell  asleep. 

In  sleep  consciousness  leaves  us,  yet  the  brain 
often  continues  to  think  ;  during  this  silent,  indis- 
tinct work,  the  thoughts  often  change  their 
definiteness,  the  soul  awakes  in  a  new  world,  al- 
together different  from  the  one  we  left  before  we 
closed  our  eyes. 

Demetrius  had  while  awake,  being  all  ex- 
citement from,  what  he  had  undergone,  only 
found  roads  without  any  exits,  and  had  gone 
from  one  fit  of  desperation  into  another,  for  he 
divined  what  a  hopeless  task  it  was  to  persuade 
a  Jewess  to  waver  from  her  creed ;  but  in  this 
quiet  sleep,  he  had  unconsciously  trodden  a  new 
road,  and  as  he  awoke,  he  gave  his  dream  deep 
consideration.  He  had  dreamed  that  he,  holding 
Gelta's  hand  in  his,  had  embraced  Platonism,  and 
therein  discovered  an  ideal  world. 

Despite  the  sceptics,  Platonic  love  is  possible — 
it  is  found  in  human  nature,  just  as  we  find 
genius,  heroism,  unselfishness,  all  very  valuable 
and  Heavenly,  because  found  so  seldom,  but  still 
at  times  found.  To  the  Grand  Duke  Dmetrius's 
credit,  be  it  said,  that  at  tJiat  moment  he  actually 
felt  convinced,  that  he  could  embrace  the  faith  of 
Platonism,  so  he  sat  down  and  penned  at  great 
length  his  new  found  thoughts  to  Gelta. 


THE  OZAB  AND  THE  OANTATBIOE.      127 


CHAPTEE  XYL 

Gelta's  coolness  of  manner  and  self-composure 
as  she  left  her  room,  were  in  striking  contrast 
with  the  tumultuous  passion  which  had  so  sud- 
denly swept  over  her  a  few  minutes  ago,  and 
served  to  stamp  her,  as  an  extraordinary  woman. 
But  oh !  after  she  had  entered  her  boudoir,  and 
locked  the  door,  the  latter  to  demonstrate  to  him, 
in  the  outer  room,  that  his  presence  was  not  de- 
sired, she  threw  herself  upon  the  couch  and  wept 
bitterly.  She  heard  him  leave  the  room  and  felt 
her  heart  go  with  him,  then  she  cried  aloud — "O, 
God  of  Abraham,  Isaac,  and  Jacob,  Omnipotent 
Creator  of  everything,  what  have  I  ever  done  to 
offend  Thee  so,  that  Thou  shouldst  as  a  punish- 
ment make  me  love  a  man,  whose  wife  I  can  never 
be!  Have  I  not  in  every  deed  and  thought 
through  all  temptations  remained  a  pure,  virtuous 
daughter  of  Israel?  Have  I  not  been  always 
most  modest  and  conscientious  in  my  demeanor  ? 
and  is  this  to  be  my  allotted  reward,  is  my  poor 
aching,  lonely  heart,  to  be  crushed  beneath  the 
weight,  of  love,  and  duty  ?  for  I  love  this  man, 
yes,  I  love  him  with  the  intensity  of  my  soul,  for 
months  I  have  struggled  to  hide  the  thought  from 
myself,  but  now,  since  I  have  seen  him  again,  I 
can  no  longer  deceive  myself.  O !  God !  be  mer- 
ciful, and  lend  Thine  ear  to  the  storm  which 


128  gelta:  or, 

rages  within  me,  I  can  shut  this  man  out  of  my 
presence,  but  I  cannot  shut  him  out  of  my 
thoughts,  and  if  the  love  which  I  feel  for  him,  is 
a  sin,  then  I  pray  Thee  most  fervently,  to  teach 
me  what  to  do,  lead  me,  oh !  guide  me,  with  Thy 
merciful  hand,  but  if  through  loving  this  man  I 
should  be  intended  to  face  dishonor,  then  I  be- 
seech Thee,  0 !  God,  most  fervently,  to  take  my 
life  at  once,  and  deliver  me  from  Earth's  woes." 
And  after  having  thus  unburdened  her  soul  with 
prayer,  she  wept,  and  wept,  and  the  convulsive 
sobs  that  issued  forth  from  her  bursting  heart, 
told  of  the  agony,  which  that  lonely  girl  felt,  who 
had  neither  father,  mother,  or  brother,  to  turn  to, 
for  a  word  of  comfort,  or  advice,  in  the  fierce 
battle  with  the  world. 

As  the  wind  clears  the  heaven,  the  outburst  of 
copious  tears  eventually  tranquillizes  the  soul. 
The  tumult  of  her  mind  gradually  subsided ;  the 
flitting  memories,  the  scudding  thoughts,  that  for 
a  moment  had  coursed  about  in  such  wild  dis- 
order, vanished,  and  melted  away,  and  a  feeling  of 
bright  serenity,  a  sense  of  calmness,  came  over 
her,  and  she  felt  that  the  divine  power  which 
fills  all  space,  and  watches  over  everything, 
would  mercifully  keep  her  in  the  path  of  rectitude. 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE   CANTATBIOE.  129 


CHAPTEE  XVII. 

Gelta  received  the  Grand  Duke  Demetrius's 
very  touching  letter  the  day  after  she  had  so 
summarily  dismissed  him,  in  which  he  breathed 
such  intense  love  !  and  oh  !  such  deep  sorrow,  at 
the  thought  of  having  offended  her,  and  implored 
her  to  forget,  and  to  accept  Platonism  with  him ; 
she  pondered  deeply  over  its  contents  for  some 
time.  The  thought  of  platonic  love  had  never 
occurred  to  her  before,  and  yet,  her's,  had  been 
platonic  love  from  their  first  meeting;  for  she 
deeply  loved  him,  but  she  felt  she  could  never 
legally  be  his  wife,  and  now  she  was  more  con- 
vinced of  the  fact  than  ever,  not  only  because  of 
the  difference  which  existed  in  their  religion,  but 
also  in  their  birth,  since  he  was  so  nearly  allied  to 
the  imperial  family  that  she  would  never  have 
allowed  him,  to  make  the  sacrifice,  of  abandoning 
his  rights,  and  family  titles,  in  order  to  live  with 
her  away  from  his  country  and  friends,  as  a 
private  citizen,  which  he  would  have  so  willingly 
made  for  her  sake. 

It  was  a  little  over  a  month  since  they  had 
made  their  platonic  compact,  and  though  she  saw 
him  almost  daily,  their  was  nothing  in  his  ad- 
vances now  to  startle  her. 

In  accordance  with  the  condition  she  stipulated, 
he  never  even  talked  of  love ;  but  there  are  modes 


130  gelta:  ob, 

of  making  it,  more  eloquent,  than  language,  and 
which  convey  it  more  subtly  and  irresistibly  to 
the  heart.  The  beam  of  the  eye,  the  tone  of  the 
voice,  the  thousand  tendernesses,  which  eminate 
form  every  word,  and  look,  and  action — these, 
form  the  true  eloquence  of  love,  and  can  always 
be  felt,  and  understood,  but  never  described. 

It  was  a  very  bright,  though  cold  morning 
when  Gelta  went  out  alone  to  pay  her  weekly  visit 
to  the  Petersburgs  Kaia  a  Storona,  and  called  at 
Rabbi  Kantrowitz's  house,  to  leave  half  of  her 
earnings,  for  him  to  distribute  among  the  most 
needy. 

It  was  about  eleven  o'clock  in  the  morning 
when  Gelta  entered  the  Rabbi's  house ;  the  old, 
faithful  housekeeper,  Hannah,  who  was  a  distant 
relative  of  the  Rabbi's,  answered  the  door,  and 
her  habitually  serious  face,  upon  which  many 
sorrows  had  left  their  indelible  traces,  broke  into 
a  broad  smile,  as  she  ushered  this  noble  daughter 
of  Israel  into  the  little  sitting-room,  for  Hannah 
knew  too  well,  how  many  families,  and  sick  Jews, 
had  derived  sastenance,  and  encouragement, 
through  the  temporary  donations  of  this  generous 
lady,  and  so  the  faithful  servant,  as  she  preceded 
Gelta  up  the  dimly-lighted,  narrow  flight  of  stairs 
which  led  into  the  small  reception-room,  kept 
murmuring,  heavenly  blessings,  upon  the  fair 
visitor. 

Rabbi  Kantrowitz  had  been  a  resident  in  the 
little  house  he  occupied  for  over  thirty-five  years. 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRICE.  131 

It  had  been  a  wedding  gift  from  his  departed 
wife's  father.  Left  a  widower  about  ten  years 
ago,  and  not  having  been  blessed  with  any 
children,  his  sole  aim  in  life  was  to  merit  truly  a 
place  in  heaven,  by  sincerely  doing  his  utmost  to 
live  a  pure,  unselfish  and  useful  life,  and  serve 
those  faithfully,  whom  misfortune  had  crushed. 

Kabbi  Kantrowitz  entered  the  room  and  gladly 
welcomed  Gelta,  but  she  could  see  that  something 
was  troubling  his  mind,  for  he  looked  sadder  than 
she  had  ever  seen  him  before.  From  her  very 
first  visit,  some  seven  weeks  prior,  she  had  made 
him  promise  that  he  would  not  mention  her  visits 
or  their  object,  for  she  thoroughly  believed  in 
keeping  charitable  acts  a  secret,  especially  in  her 
public  career,  in  order  that  they  should  not  be 
misconstrued,  as  a  medium,  for  self  advertise- 
ment. 

"Yes,  Rabbi,"  she  remarked  for  the  second 
time  in  the  course  of  their  conversation,  during 
which  she  had  handed  him  her  weekly  offering  to 
be  distributed  as  usual,  "  you  are  looking  so  down- 
cast." He  still  held  her  little  gloved  hand,  after 
having  solemnly  blessed  her  in  the  old  orthodox 
fashion,  by  saying  a  prayer,  with  up-raised  hands 
over  her  bowed  head.  A  ray  of  hope  began  to 
struggle  through  his  dim  sad  eyes,  as  he  seemed 
to  clothe  the  thought,  which  had  just  entered  his 
mind,  in  words. 

"Tell  me,"  he  said,  "you  have  so  many  in- 
fluential friends  here,  have  you  not  ?  and  as  they 


132  GELTA  :  OB, 

all  know  you  are  an  American  they  forget  to  in- 
quire about  your  religion,  and  take  it  for  granted 
do  they  not  that  as  you  do  not  belong  to  the 
Russian  Church,  you  must  perforce,  be  a  here- 
tic!" 

"You  know,  Rabbi,"  Gelta  interposed,  "I  have 
not  been  asked,  or  I  should  have  been  only  too 
proud,  to  announce  myself,  a  proud  daughter  of 
the  House  of  Israel." 

"  And  a  good  thing  it  is,"  the  Rabbi  replied, 
"  that  society  in  its  enthusiasm  has  overlooked 
the  fact,  if  not,  my  dear  child,  you  would  have 
already  suffered  the  deep  sting  of  their  unrea- 
sonable prejudice,  for  they  are  a  pack  of  raving 
fanatics." 

"  I  care  not  for  their  prejudices, "  she  replied, 
with  contempt,  "  for  glorious  America  is  the  land 
of  my  birth,  and  Russia  dare  not  trifle  with 
America's  subjects.  However,  as  you  say,  Rabbi, 
it  is  useless  to  try  to  reason  calmly  with  an  in- 
sane crowd,  so  I  have  determined  within  another 
six  weeks,  when  my  contract  expires,  to  leave 
Russia  forever,  as  my  presence  here  can  be  of 
very  little  or  no  benefit  to  my  poor,  persecuted 
people  ;  their  wretched  lot  only  makes  my  heart 
ache,  at  my  own  helplessness.  But,  good  Rabbi, 
you  were  about  to  refer  to  some  of  the  influential 
people  who  seem  to  be  my  friends ;  if  I  can  be 
of  the  slightest  service  to  you,  you  may  be  sure 
that  I  will  do  my  utmost  to  serve  you. " 

"I  know  the  nobility  of  your  soul,"  he  an- 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRIOE.  133 

swered,  "  and  even  to  tell  you  of  this  very  sad 
case  which  occurred  several  months  before  your 
arrival  here,  pains  me  deeply,  since  it  is  such  a 
hopeless  one ;  but  there  is  a  young  man  who  is  at 
present  in  my  house,  and  who  arrived  only  a  few 
days  ago,  to  see  his  aged,  sick  mother,  who  is 
dying  of  a  broken  heart,  because  of  her  poor  hus- 
band, Isaac  Goldstein's  arrest,  some  six  months 
ago.  She  has  had  no  tidings  from  him ;  all  we 
know  is,  that  at  that  time,  he  had  received  a 
small  sum  of  money  from  his  only  child,  the 
young  man  who  is  at  present  in  my  house.  He 
is  a  very  fine  pianist,  and  about  iiYe  years  ago  he 
left  Eussia  penniless  and  on  foot,  and  managed  to 
cross  the  Eussian  frontier,  unobserved,  and 
thereby  escaped  serving  as  a  soldier  and  defend- 
ing the  banner  of  tyranny. 

"  After  much  suffering  and  privation,  and  with 
the  assistance  from  some  co-religionists,  he 
managed  to  reach  Vienna,  where  after  a  time  he 
got  several  pupils.  With  the  little  he  earned  he 
managed  to  keep  the  wolf  from  the  door,  and  also 
to  send  home  to  his  poor  old  parents  three  or  four 
roubles  per  month,  for  you  see  as  he  was  prepar- 
ing to  appear  in  public,  he  had  not  the  spare  time 
to  waste  in  teaching,  except  so  far  as  necessity 
compelled  him,  and  as  his  father  had  for  many 
years  eked  out  a  living  by  teaching  Hebrew,  he 
finally  was  promised  by  his  friends  that  if  he 
would  send  for  his  father,  they  would  procure 
him  a  number  of  pupils  in  Vienna!  Of  course 


134:  gelta:  or, 

from  the  moment  the  idea  was  put  before  Schlomar 
Goldstein,  a  new  hope  entered  his  lonely  heart. 
He  saw  his  dearly  beloved  mother  once  more 
presiding  over  the  little  household  which  he 
knew  he  could  call  home,  and  then  he  thought 
how  the  long  hours  of  fatiguing  studies  would  be 
cheered  by  the  sympathetic  voice  of  his  devoted 
mother,  and  he  planned  how  after  his  father's 
lessons  and  his  own  hours  of  work  of  each  day 
were  over,  he  would  take  his  parents  to  see  the 
different  sights  which  abound  so  plentifully  in 
Vienna,  where  everybody  is  so  free  and  light- 
hearted,  that  life  and  its  struggles  become  a 
pleasurable  task. 

"  Well  my  dear  child,'  continued  Eabbi  Kant- 
trowitz,  "  to  make  a  long  story  short,  after  two 
years  hard  and  careful  savings,  Schlomar  Gold- 
stein managed  to  send  one  hundred  roubles  to  his 
parents  to  defray  their  traveling  expenses  It 
soon  became  known  that  Isaac  Goldstein  had  re- 
ceived one  hundred  roubles,  thanks  to  the  Russian 
spy  system.  As  I  have  already  said,  no  sooner  was 
it  known  that  poor  Isaac  had  received  money,  than 
the  head  of  the  police  sent  for  him,  and  informed 
Isaac  Goldstein,  that  he  was  accused  of  very  grave 
charges,  and  he  must  immediately  hand  over  to 
him  (the  chief  of  police)  the  money  he  had  re- 
ceived from  his  son,  or  take  the  consequences. 
Of  course  poor  Isaac  was  indignant  and  protested 
his  innocence  and  also  denied  having  any  of  the 
money  left,  and  said  he  had  paid  several  standing 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRIOE.  135 

debts,  for  lie  knew  only  too  well,  how  many 
privations,  his  cherished  son  had  faced,  in  order 
to  accumulate,  the  amount,  which  was  so  soon  to 
unite  them  again.  But  the  Russian  official  was 
implacable  in  his  hatred  against  the  Jews,  and  in 
his  avaricious  greed  for  money,  and  so  he  reasoned 
that  these  dogs  of  Jews,  ought  to  be  at  the  bottom 
of  the  Neva,  and  that  he  should  best  carry  out  the 
wishes  of  the  Czar  by  exterminating  them. 

"  Poor  Isaac  in  his  indignant  and  bewildered 
state  of  mind,  had  the  imprudence,  to  tell  the  chief 
that  he  was  only  endeavoring  to  extort  money 
from  him,  by  groundless  charges,  for  he,  the  chief, 
knew  very  well,  he  was  innocent.  It  was  a  fearful 
remark  to  make  to  so  powerful  an  enemy,  for  he 
was  immediately  seized  by  two  gendarmes  and 
sent  to  the  Litovsky  Zamok,  which  is  the  chief 
prison  of  St.  Petersburg.  It  is  a  dreadful  place, 
the  prisoners,  both  men  and  women,  are  confined 
there  for  years  perhaps,  before  they  are  allowed 
to  get  a  hearing,  or  be  put  on  trial,  and  on  the 
least  provocation,  they  are  mercilessly  flogged." 

"But,"  interposed  Gelta,  "if  they  had  no  proofs 
against  him,  could  not  the  Jewish  community 
send  a  petition  to  the  Czar,  stating  the  outrage, 
perpetrated,  upon  their  unfortunate  co-religion- 
ists?" 

"Ah !  my  child,"  said  the  Eabbi  sadly  shaking 
his  head,  "  in  Bussia  it  is  the  easiest  matter  to 
trump  up  the  most  serious  charges,  against  tne 
most  innocent,  and  as  for  the  Czar,  I  regret  to  ad- 


136  gelta:  or, 

mit,  that  with  all  his  education  and  high  birth, 
he  is  as  prejudiced  against  the  Jews  as  the  most 
ignorant  of  his  subjects  are.  For  it  is  a  true  say- 
ing, that  i  silence  consents,'  else  if  he  did  not  hate 
the  Jews,  he  need  only  occasionally  recognize  some 
of  our  leading  Jews  with  a  bow,  and  his  officers 
would  not  dare,  after  his  recognition,  to  heap  on 
their  ignominious  charges,  and  practice  their 
many  extortions,  and  unjust  punishments,  upon 
our  peace-loving  people. 

"  But  to  return  to  poor  Isaac  Goldstein,  we  have 
none  of  us  been  able  to  see  him  since  the  day  he 
was  incarcerated,  and  in  fact  his  case  seems  nigh 
hopeless,  for  he  may  linger  in  prison  perhaps  for 
years,  before  he  is  called  for  trial,  and  then  all 
he  can  hope  for,  is  to  be  exiled  to  Siberia;  for  in 
Russia,  to  speak  to  an  officer,  without  cringing 
before  him  in  the  dust,  is  an  unpardonable  crime, 
and  many  noble  hearts  of  nature's  sterling  coin- 
age, have  been  tortured,  and  then  suffered  death, 
for  the  same. 

"Civilization  is  in  a  measure  responsible  for 
Russia's  barbarism,  for  if  only  the  different 
powers  of  the  civilized  world  would  withdraw 
their  ambassadors,  and  would  cease  having  any 
intercourse  with  Russia;  in  fact  would  excom- 
municate her  from  civilization,  it  might  teach  her 
to  be  more  human,  and  Christian-like,  toward 
her  helpless  subjects;  for  if  a  parent  unmercifully 
abuses  his  child,  the  law  takes  it  upon  itself,  to 
interfere,  and  mete  out  a  just  punishment,  to  the 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRICE.  137 

parent,  and  it  is  civilization's  solemn  duty,  to 
mete  out  a  just  punishment  to  Russia.  But  to 
return  to  poor  Isaac  Goldstein:  we  are  perfectly- 
helpless,  and  dare  not  even  express  by  word,  or 
look,  that  poor  Isaac's  incarceration  is  an  outrage 
against  humanity,  or  that  justice  has  erred,  be- 
cause, we  all  run  the  risk  of  being  imprisoned,  as 
his  accomplices,  and  left  to  rot  in  prison  perhaps 
for  years  to  come,  before  we  could  get  a  hearing ; 
so  we  have  given  poor  Isaac  up,  as  one  that  is 
dead,  and  can  only  pray  the  God  of  Israel,  the 
God  who  fills  all  space,  for  Isaac  Goldstein's  de- 
liverance." 

"  But  this  son  of  his  ?  "  asked  Gelta. 

"  His  son,  "  continued  Rabbi  Kantrowitz,  "  ar- 
rived two  days  ago  to  be  at  the  bedside  of  his 
dying  mother,  but  if  his  presence  here,  were 
known  to  the  authorities,  he  would  be  condemned 
to  death,  because  of  his  failing  to  enlist.  So, 
during  the  last  two  days  he  has  been  concealed 
in  my  house,  while  at  night  he  sits  by  his 
mother's  bedside,  who,  strange  to  say,  since  she 
has  seen  her  child,  is  on  a  fair  way  to  recovery. 
However  he  only  endangers  his  life  by  his  pres- 
ence here,  and  I  have  done  my  utmost  to  induce 
him  to  return  to  Vienna,  but  he  seems  to  be  in- 
different to  life  itself,  since  he  learned  of  the  grief 
and  misery  of  his  parents.  " 

"  How  very  sad,"  Gelta  murmured,  after  having 
listened  in  silence  to  the  Rabbi,  "I  would  like  to 
see  Mr.  Goldstein,"  she  continued,    "perhaps, 


138  gelta:  or, 

who  knows  ?  I  may  be  able  to  persuade  him  to 
leave  this  wretched  land,  which  is  fraught  with  so 
much  peril  for  him. " 

"My  child,"  answered  the  Rabbi,  "if  you  can 
impress  upon  him  to  leave,  you  will  have  snatched 
him  from  death,  or  worse,  Siberia. " 

"  Go,  good  Father,"  she  said,  "  send  Schlomar 
Goldstein  here  immediately,  and  leave  us  alone 
for  a  little  while  so  that  I  may  speak  to  him  un- 
disturbed. " 

The  Rabbi,  after  a  few  moments  absence,  re-en- 
tered and  introduced  Mr.  Goldstein.  The  young 
man  was  of  medium  height,  his  head  looked  as  if 
it  were  too  large  for  his  slight,  wiry  frame,  he 
had  piercing,  black  eyes,  a  weird,  far-away,  de- 
spairing look  about  his  face.  His  hair  was  weedy 
and  long,  his  trousers  bagged  at  the  knee,  they 
looked  as  if  they  had  quarrelled  with  the  wearer's 
boots,  for  they  shrank  fully  ten  inches  away  from 
them,  and  no  coaxing  seemed  to  avail  to  get  them 
nearer.  The  boots,  too,  had  an  air  of  artistic 
poverty.  But  clothes  neither  make  the  man,  nor 
the  artist,  and  in  this  case,  the  neglected  appear- 
ance, merely  suggested  the  inner  despair,  that 
was  gnawing  at  the  core  of  his  heart. 

Gelta  rose  and  heartily  extended  her  hand  to 
greet  him.  "Won't  you  take  this  seat,"  she  said, 
indicating  a  chair  near  hers,  as  the  Eabbi  left  the 
room,  apologizing  for  his  speedy  exit. 

Mr.  Goldstein  acquiesced  with  a  low  bow  of 
thanks. 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRIOE.  139 

11 1  am  an  American,  just  here  for  a  short  visit," 
Gelta  began  in  German,  "  and  as  a  true  daughter 
of  Israel,  I  cannot  but  feel  deeply  pained,  at  the 
unjust  indignities  heaped  upon  my  race.  I  have 
accidently  heard  of  your  poor  father's  incarcera- 
tion  " 

A  suppressed  sob  broke  from  his  heart,  as  he 
leaned  on  the  back  of  the  chair  for  support, 
burying  his  face  in  his  left  hand  as  if  to  hide  the 
tears  that  streamed  down  his  sad,  emaciated  face. 

Gelta  took  his  right  hand  in  both  of  hers  in 
silent  sympathy.  After  a  short  pause  she  con- 
tinued, not  unmoved  by  the  picture  of  helpless 
despair  before  her. 

"You  see  your  being  here  does  not  assist 
matters,  and  you  well  know  the  danger  which 
surrounds  you  for  having  evaded  enlisting.  Now 
if  you  value  your  life  you  must  return  to  Vienna 
at  once." 

"  Oh  !  do  not  speak  to  me  of  life,"  he  moaned ; 
"  when  I  think  of  my  poor  innocent  father  buried 
alive  in  some  dark  cell  under  the  Neva,  and  my 
dear  devoted  mother,  dying  of  a  broken  heart ; 
what  is  life,  what  is  God,  what  is  anything  to  me, 
compared  with  the  appalling  despair  which  sur- 
rounds me?" 

"Hush!"  she  said  reproachfully,  "you  are 
blasphemous!  Have  you  then  so  little  faith  in 
heaven  that  at  the  first  blow  of  sorrow,  you 
abandon  yourself  to  despair,  instead  of  clinging, 
and  praying,  to  the  God  of  all  creation,  to  wit- 


140  gelta:  ob, 

ness  your  grief  and  help  you?  "Who  was  it  that 
watched  over  you  when  you  first  left  home  alone 
and  penniless,  and  safely  guided  your  footsteps 
to  Vienna  ?  Was  it  not  God  ?  "Was  it  not  the 
great  God  of  Abraham,  Isaac  and  Jacob  who 
made  you  encounter  good,  sympathizing  friends, 
and  assisted  you  in  your  musical  studies  ?  Was 
it  not  the  Great  Almighty  who  so  kindly  watched 
over  you  then  ?  and  do  you  think  he  will  abandon 
you  now,  in  your  despair,  no !  but  if  you  do  not 
implicitly  put  your  faith  and  hope  in  God,  you 
are  not  a  true  son  of  Israel !    Go,  Schlomar." 

He  turned  and  looked  at  her  with  a  start. 

"  Yes,"  she  resumed,  interpreting  his  surprise, 
"this  is  no  time  for  formality.  I  feel  your  sorrow 
as  if  we  were  sister  and  brother,  and  in  faith  we 
are,  for  we  belong  to  the  noble  house  of  Israel. 
Therefore,"  Gelta  continued,  "if  you  will  obey 
me,  by  leaving  for  Vienna  this  very  night,  I  will 
promise  you,  that  I  will  endeavor  to  do  my  ut- 
most, in  getting  some  of  my  influential  friends 
interested,  in  your  poor  father's  behalf." 

He  gazed  silently  at  her  as  if  it  were  an  angel 
speaking  to  him  in  a  dream,  and  she  resumed : 

"  Who  knows  " — with  a  far-away  look,  as  if  she 
pierced  the  future  and  saw  a  happy  family  group 
— "  who  knows, "  she  continued,  "  but  that  several 
months  hence,  you  and  your  parents  may  be  hap- 
pily established  in  Vienna  ?  " 

He  fell  before  her  on  his  knees,  kissing  the 
ground  upon  which  her  feet  rested. 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATBICE.  141 

"  Oil ! "  he  sobbed  aloud,  "  the  picture  is  too 
beautiful  to  be  verified." 

"  Not  if  you  place  your  sincere  faith  in  God," 
Gelta  replied,  rising,  so  as  not  to  see  him  at  her 
feet. 

After  a  short  pause  she  resumed : 

"  Schlomar,  if  you  leave  to-night,  I  will  send 
your  mother  with  a  nurse  as  soon  as  she  is  able 
to  travel,  and  who  knows,  perhaps  before  another 
week,  your  father  may  be  free,  to  join  you ;  but  I 
will  not  stir  in  the  matter,  until  I  have  received  a 
telegram  from  you  on  the  other  side  of  the 
frontier,  saying  only  the  word  "  arrived. " 

"My  dear  Madam,"  began  the  overwhelmed 
Goldstein,  "  how  shall  I  ever  be  able  to  show  you 
my  deep  gratitude  ?  " 

"  By  doing, "  she  answered,  "  after  success  and 
fame  shall  have  crowned  your  career,  the  very 
thing  which  I  am  attempting  to  do  now ;  that  is, 
to  bring  with  sympathy,  and  deeds,  a  ray  of  sun- 
shine, into  the  lives  of  those  less  fortunate,  and 
by  never  wavering  in  the  faith,  and  lasting  love, 
of  the  Great  Almighty.  And  now  as  we  have  de- 
cided, "  she  said,  as  she  rose  to  leave,  "  Schiomar, 
this  afternoon  I  will  send  a  hundred  roubles,  and 
when  you  are  safely  in  Vienna,  I  will  send  you 
another  hundred  so  that  you  may  prepare  a  com- 
fortable place  for  your  parents.  " 

"  No,  I  cannot  accept  money  from  you,"  he  re- 
plied with  almost  a  cold  dignity,  as  if  all  his  man- 
hood revolted  at  the  very  thought  of  it. 


142  gelta:  or, 

"You  are  not  accepting  it  from  the  woman," 
she  answered,  "  but  from  the  artist.  You  see  we 
are  comrades,  it  is  simply  a  loan,  and  when  some 
day  you  will  be  able  to  return  it,  then  give  it  to  the 
poor,  in  my  name." 

He  could  not  reply,  but  the  tears  which  fell 
like  the  dew  from  heaven  upon  her  beautiful 
hand  which  she  held  out  to  him  on  parting, 
and  which  with  bowed  head,  his  lips  touched 
reverently,  told  of  the  undying  gratitude,  of  his 
heart. 


CHAPTEE  XVIIL 

Upon  Gelta's  return  to  the  hotel,  she  found  the 
Grand  Duke  Demetrius  pacing  up  and  down  her 
salon. 

"Pardon  my  intrusion,"  he  murmured,  as  he 
came  forward  to  greet  her  on  her  entrance,  "  but  I 
was  told  you  would  soon  return  and  so,"  he  con- 
tinued, while  lovingly  holding  her  little  hand  "  and 
so,  I  waited." 

"  Oh !  I  am  so  delighted,"  she  said,  "  to  find  you 
here  at  this  moment." 

"  Really,"  he  ejaculated  with  astonished  pleas- 
ure, for  she  always  appeared  so  reserved  in  her 
greetings  towards  him.  But  as  he  looked  at  her 
keenly,  trying  to  scrutinize  her  soul,  he  saw  from 
the  deep  fire  in  her  lovely  eyes,  that  she  was 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRICE.  143 

really  glad  to  see  him.  In  another  moment  the 
enraptured  Demetrius  had  seized  her  in  his  arms, 
and  was  pleading,  imploring  her,  for  a  kiss. 

"  No,"  she  said,  gently  but  firmly,  at  the  same 
time  endeavoring  to  extricate  herself  from  his 
arms. 

"Demetrius,"  she  said  slowly,  but  with  deter- 
mination, "you  know  upon  what  conditions  I 
made  peace  with  you ;  that  you  must  never  try  to 
take  advantage,  by  ever  kissing,  or  embracing  me, 
without  my  permission," — interrupting  him  as  he 
was  about  to  speak,  she  continued,  "  and  you  gave 
me  your  word  of  honor,  that  you  would  abide  by 
our  compact,  until  I  should  see  fit,  to  alter  the 
same." 

"  But,"  he  moaned,  "  you  never  will  see  fit  to 
alter  that  dreadful,  unnatural,  condition.  "What 
harm,"  he  insinuatingly  urged,  "  can  there  be  in  a 
tiny  kiss  ?  Angels  kiss,  old  and  young  people  kiss, 
everybody  kisses,  and  why  should  not  we  whose 
love  is  so  deep,  so  sincere,  so  full  of  fervor,  in- 
dulge in  kissing !  Surely  you  won't  refuse  to  give 
me  a  sister's,  or  a  cousin's  kiss ! 

"  I  don't  know  how,"  she  smilingly  interposed, 
"  you  see  I  never  had  a  brother,  nor  a  cousin." 

"  Then  let  me  be  both,"  he  suddenly  pleaded. 

"  Oh,  no,"  she  jokingly  replied,  "that  would  be 
redoubling  the  sum." 

"  Oh !  how  cruel,  you  are  Gelta,"  he  answered 
in  a  sad  dejected  voice,  "  if  you  only  knew  how 
craving,  how  starving,  my  poor  heart  is  for  a  tiny 


144  GELTA  :  OB, 

kiss !  And  yet  you  remain  so  fearfully  obstinate." 

"  That  will  do,"  she  replied,  with  a  cold,  deter- 
mined expression,  and  then  a  moment  later  she 
continued  with  a  cooing  voice,  at  the  time  placing 
both  her  little  hands  in  his  large  palms,  "  Deme- 
trius," she  slowly  said,  "I  wish  to  ask  you  a 
favor,  it  is  the  first  favor  I  have  to  ask  you,  will 
you  grant  it  ?  "     ■ 

"Oh,  ask  me  for  anything  you  like,"  replied  the 
enthusiastic  lover,  "  ask  me  for  life  itself,  only 
grant  me  one  long,  one  loving  kiss,"  and  he 
yearningly  and  tremblingly  bent  down  to  steal  the 
coveted  prize ! 

"  Not  now,"  she  said,  as  she  quickly  disengaged 
herself  from  his  embrace,  "not  now,"  she  re- 
peated, "  but,  if  you  will  grant  me  the  favor  I  am 
about  to  ask,  then  you  shall  have  the  kiss,  for 
which  your  heart  craves." 

"Oh,  Queen  of  my  soul,  tell  me  quickly,"  he 
pleaded,  "  so  that  I  may  earn  the  prize  at  once." 

Gelta  soon  related  all  the  details  of  poor  Isaac 
Goldstein's  unjust  incarceration,  but  after  he  had 
heard  all,  he  shook  his  head  seriously,  saying — 
"  Ah !  my  beloved  one  !  you  cannot  imagine  how 
many  difficulties  arise  in  setting  a  man  free  when 
he  once  has  entered  a  Russian  prison." 

"  Surely  you  wouldn't  find  any  obstacles  if  you 
wished  to  intercede  for  this  innocent,  yet  wretched 
man,"  she  said  with  surprise. 

"  Yes,  even  I"  he  answered,  "  should  meet  with 
difficulties,  for  His  Majesty,  the    Czar  is    very 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRICE.  145 

severe  on  that  point  and  will  not  have  the  acts  of 
his  officers  called  in  question." 

"  But  there  is  no  necessity  for  that,"  interposed 
Gelta,  "simply  get  the  man  released,  and  I  will 
see  that  he  leaves  for  Vienna  immediately,  and  he 
will  never  return;  if  you  refuse,"  she  continued 
with  undaunted  determination,  "I  intend  to  ask 
an  audience  of  the  Czar  himself,  and  plead  for 
this  poor  helpless,  inoffensive  being." 

"  To  see  the  Czar  on  such  a  mission,"  he  ex- 
claimed, "  would  be  madness,  for  I  grieve  to  say, 
though  so  nearly  related  to  His  Highness,  he  is 
not  progressive  in  his  attitude  toward  deep  rooted 
prejudices." 

"  You  are  endeavoring  to  intimidate  me,"  Gelta 
replied  nothing  daunted,  "  but  mark  you,  if  you 
do  not  intercede,  I  am  still  determined,  to  see  the 
Czar,  and  if  need  be,  listen  to  his  refusal.' 

"  He  would  not  only  refuse  you,"  said  Demet- 
rius sadly,  "but  you  would  be  asked  to  leave 
Russia  for  interfering  with  the  law." 

"  Well !  what  if  I  were  asked  to  leave,"  ex- 
claimed Gelta  with  superb  dignity,  "Russia  would 
be  the  loser,  as  for  myself,  I  prefer  to  be  far  away 
from  a  country,  where  Justice  is  obliged  to  double 
bandage  her  eyes,  for  fear  of  seeing  the  shame- 
lessness,  of  those  who  govern  her." 

"  Calm  yourself,  my  darling,"  said  Demetrius, 
"  I  have  not  refused,  have  I? " 

"Of  course  not,"  said  Gelta,  smiling  at  her 
own  impetuosity,  and  then  she  archly  continued, 


146  gelta:  ob, 

"  if  your  heart  still  craves  for  that  oft-asked  kiss, 
you  will  not  fail  to  get  Isaac  Goldstein  free  with- 
in a  week,  and  now  you  must  leave  me,  for  you 
know  I  sing  to-night." 

"Oh!  yes,  in  'Faust/"  he  said  laughingly,  as 
he  rose  to  go,  trying  to  draw  her  near  him  while 
clasping  her  tiny  hands,  "  I  hope  soon  to  claim 
my  kiss,  but  won't  you  give  me  a  little  foretaste  ?  " 
he  pleaded. 

"  No,  and  what's  more,"  she  replied,  "  do  not 
call  again,  until  you  can  bring  me  good  news,  of 
Isaac  Goldstein's  speedy  release." 

As  soon  as  the  Duke  took  his  departure,  Gelta 
drove  part  of  the  distance,  and  then  quickly 
wended  her  way  on  foot  to  the  Rabbi's  house, 
and  handed  Hannah,  the  old  faithful  housekeeper 
who  answered  the  door,  a  large  envelope  addressed 
to  Rabbi  Kantrowitz ;  enclosed  was  another 
enveloped  addressed  to  Schlomar  Goldstein, 
which  contained  a  photograph  of  herself,  upon 
which  was  inscribed,  "  to  the  rising  young  pianist," 
a  hundred  roubles  and  a  letter  full  of  hope  for 
the  near  future. 

That  night  Schlomar  Goldstein  set  out  on  foot 
to  steal  his  way  across  the  frontier,  and  with  his 
benefactress's  kind  letter  and  photograph  next  his 
heart  he  felt  a  strong  hope  rise  within  him,  the 
face  of  this  beautiful  daughter  of  Israel  shone 
upon  him  like  a  beautiful  light  from  heaven,  and  as 
he  thought  of  her  noble  and  encouraging  words, 
he  felt  a  divine  inspiration  descend  upon  him, 


THE   CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRICE.  147 

and  then  lie  remembered  how  she  had  asked  him 
to  pray,  to  the  Almighty,  and  so  he  stopped,  with 
his  face  turned  towards  the  east,  to  pray ;  and 
the  silver  stars  shone  down  upon  him  with  beam- 
ing hope,  and  the  hot  tears  that  streamed  down 
his  pallid  cheeks  told  of  the  fervor  of  his  prayer, 
and  of  the  innumerable  blessings,  which  he  called 
down  upon  the  head  of  his  benefactress. 

"  Oh ! "  he  thought,  "  if  I  could  only  once  more 
embrace  my  dear  parents  in  Vienna,  there,  be- 
yond the  reach  of  the  Russian  oppressor,  then  I 
should  be  happy,  then  I  would  do  my  utmost  to 
become  great  in  the  musical  world.  And  who 
knows,  he  thought,  after  I  had  won  my  laurels, 
perhaps  she  would  feel  proud  of  me."  And  then 
he  crushed  the  wild  thought  which  seemed  to  rise 
within  him,  for  he  invested  her  with  the  sacred- 
ness  of  a  saint. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

Two  days  later  Gelta  received  a  telegram  from 
Schlomar  Goldstein,  informing  her  of  his  safe 
arrival.  Meanwhile  she  had  not  neglected  his 
poor  sick  mother,  for  Gelta  had  spent  the  two 
afternoons  with  the  lonely  invalid,  and  had 
brought  her  some  good  wine  and  other  delicacies; 
but  the  most  efficacious  medicine  which  she  ad- 
ministered, were  words  of  hope,  and  comfort,  to 
the  sick  woman,  for,  she  told  her,  it  only  depended 


148  gelta:  ob, 

on  herself,  to  recover  and  join  her  husband  and 
son  in  Vienna,  and  the  words  acted  like  magic 
upon  the  invalid,  on  the  third  day  she  was  strong 
enough  to  be  out  of  bed,  and  as  the  physician 
thought,  the  change  would  do  Mrs.  Goldstein 
good,  Gelta  promised  her  that  if  she  took  good 
care  of  herself,  that  she  would  be  allowed  to  leave 
Russia  in  a  few  days.  And  so  the  poor  woman 
buoyed  up  with  hope  and  kindness,  was  able  two 
days  later  to  set  out,  accompanied  by  a  good 
strong  nurse,  for  Vienna,  where  Gelta  telegraphed 
her  son  to  meet  her. 

It  was  indeed  a  happy  meeting,  but  we  will  not 
dwell  on  the  event,  but  will  follow  the  Grand 
Duke  Demetrius  after  having  left  Gelta. 

Demetrius  returned  home  slowly,  thinking  how 
he  had  best  act  to  procure  Isaac  Goldstein's  re- 
lease, without  its  reaching  the  ears  of  the  Czar, 
for  he  well  knew  that  the  fact  of  the  prisoner  be- 
ing a  Jew,  left  him  without  claim,  to  right,  or 
sympathy,  in  Russia.  During  the  course  of  the 
following  day  he  went  to  all  those  persons  from 
whom  he  was  most  likely  to  get  assistance  of 
securing  the  prisoner's  release,  but  he  met  with 
nothing  but  obstacles,  though  under  various  pre- 
texts. 

The  Chief  Director  of  the  Police  was  not  in 
town,  the  gendarmes'  General  had  a  sudden  re- 
lapse of  the  gout,  the  Court  of  Justice  was  shut. 
The  afternoon  being  far  advanced,  Demetrius  de- 
termined to  call  on  the  Governor  of  the  Livona 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRICE.  149 

Zamok,  the  very  next  morning,  for  lie  was  restless 
and  anxious  to  see  Gelta,  and  he  dare  not  present 
himself,  without  some  encouraging  news,  con- 
cerning Isaac  Goldstein. 

Of  course,  at  the  time  of  Isaac  Goldstein's  ar- 
rest, it  was  necessary  that  some  sort  of  an  official 
inquiry  should  be  made  into  the  case,  and  as  the 
trumped  up  proofs  were  produced  of  his  being 
the  head  of  a  Nihilist  band,  and  that  he  received 
money  from  abroad,  to  further  the  cause,  his 
friends  did  not  even  dare,  by  look  or  word,  to 
intercede  in  his  behalf,  lest  they  too,  should  be 
accused  as  accessories. 

It  was  night  time  when  poor  Isaac  Goldstein 
entered  the  gloomy  cell  of  Livona  Zamok.  He 
was  loaded  with  chains  which  clanked  at  his 
every  movement,  he  felt  that  his  life  was  done, 
his  heart  seemed  crushed  for  he  knew  too  much 
of  Russian  administration,  to  be  indifferent,  as  to 
what  it  all  meant;  he  had  often  heard  it  whis- 
pered, that  when  a  prisoner  once  entered  one  of 
these  dark  cells,  he  might  as  well  be  buried  alive, 
remaining  for  years  without  ever  hearing  a  human 
voice,  or  seeing  the  light  of  day,  for  no  sign  from 
the  outer  world  reaches  it,  and  the  horrible  silence 
drives  the  prisoner  slowly  mad.  The  mind  rots 
in  the  body,  as  it  were.  The  warders,  under 
heavy  penalties  are  not  allowed  to  speak  to  a 
prisoner,  nor  to  answer  even  the  most  casual 
question. 

Poor  Isaac  was  constantly  reproaching  himself 


150  gelta:  or, 

for  not  having  delivered  the  money  his  son  had 
sent  him  to  the  Chief  of  Police,  when  he  asked 
for  it,  and  then  fleeing  with  his  wife  from  the  ac- 
cursed Russia  on  foot.  Of  course  it  was  too  late 
now  to  think  of  what  he  might  have  done,  for  at 
the  time  of  his  arrest,  everything  was  so  sudden, 
that  he  did  not  realize  the  danger  which  threat- 
ened him,  if  he  did  not  satisfy  the  official's  greed! 
And  now  he  could  only  sigh,  for  his  eyes  had 
wept,  until  the  tears  could  flow  no  longer,  and  the 
fountain  of  his  grief  had  dried  before  the  heat 
of  his  agonizing  soul,  and  so  for  months,  and 
months,  he  had  prayed  to  the  God  of  Abraham, 
Isaac  and  Jacob,  to  deliver  him  from  this  weary 
battle  with  mankind. 

One  morning  Nicholas  Ossipovitch,  the  Gover- 
nor General  of  the  Livona  Zamok,  was  sitting  in 
his  armchair  before  his  writingtable,  in  his  official 
reception  room;  he  was  a  hard  stern-faced  man, 
with  cruelty  written  large  upon  his  countenance, 
with  its  thin  drawn  lips,  and  its  cold  watchful 
eyes,  Nicholas  Ossipovitch  combined  with  the 
purring  docile,  cringing  nature  of  the  courtier, 
the  tiger's  ferocity.  He  had  climbed  to  power 
by  trampling  into  the  dust  every  one  who  would 
have  opposed  him,  for  he  was  pitiless.  He  was 
in  his  own  sphere  a  petty  king.  As  Governor 
General  of  the  prison,  he  had  a  tremendous 
power  in  his  hands,  and  he  used  that  power  like 
a  tyrant  and  a  despot. 

Ossipovitch  had  just  dismissed  his  assistant, 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRICE.  151 

and  was  busy  with  a  bill  of  indictment 
in  a  case  of  murder.  Suddenly  quick  loud 
steps  in  the  adjoining  room  were  audible, 
and  a  voice  asked  after  him.  The  Secretary 
had  not  yet  given  an  answer,  before  the  door  was 
thrown  open  and  Ossipovitch  saw  the  Grand 
Duke  Demetrius  standing  before  him.  He  started 
up,  and  leaned  his  left  hand  on  the  table  for  sup- 
port, unable  to  hide  the  surprise,  which  this  visit 
occasioned  him,  for  he  thought  that  some  of  the 
outrages,  which  his  lust  had  perpetrated  upon 
some  of  the  helpless  women  in  the  prison,  had  at 
last  come  to  the  hearing  of  the  Czar. 

The  most  detestably  mean  class  in  Russia  are 
certainly  the  Government  officials!  There  is  no 
basness  too  base,  no  dishonesty  too  dishonest,  no 
cringing  too  low,  no  lie  too  bare-faced,  no  time- 
serving too  vile  for  them. 

When  Ossipovitch  unexpectedly  saw  the 
Grand  Duke  before  him,  he  managed  with 
suppressed  agitation  to  ask  the  illustrious  in-* 
truder  to  what  he  owed  the  honor  of  His  High- 
ness' visit. 

Demetrius,  in  an  easy  matter  of  fact  voice,  soon 
made  known  the  object  of  his  call. 

The  Governor  now  straightened  his  neck- 
cloth with  his  right  hand  and  coughed,  in  order 
to  hide  his  astonishment!  for  he  thought,  if  it 
had  been  a  woman,  for  whom  the  Grand  Duke 
took  the  trouble  to  intercede,  he  could  quite 
understand  the  motive!!  but  to  trouble   about 


152  OELTA  :  OR, 

this  wretched  old  man,  this  dog  of  a  Jew,  who 
did  not  even  possess  a  daughter! 

However,  "  Your  Highness  is  aware,"  he  re- 
marked aloud,  "  that  this  Isaac  Goldstein  is  a  very 
dangerous  Nihilist ! " 

"  I'll  answer  for  his  innocence,"  Demetrius  re- 
plied with  a  cold  dignified  bearing. 

The  Governor  looked  amazed  ! ! ! 

"Indeed,"  he  muttered,  "well  this  alters  the 
face  of  the  question ;  certainly,  since  it  is  your 
Highness's  desire,  Isaac  Goldstein  will  be  released 
this  afternoon." 

"  At  what  time  ?  "  asked  Demetrius. 

"  Of  course  there  are  certain  formalities  which 
must  be  signed,"  answered  Ossipovitch  ;  "it  is 
now  eleven  o'clock,  but  by  four  this  afternoon  the 
prisoner  will  have  been  released." 

"Very  well,"  replied  Demetrius,  "at  four 
o'clock  I  will  send  some  of  his  friends  to  meet 
him,  for  he  leaves  Eussia  early  to-morrow  morn- 
ing, never  to  return,  and  let  me  impress  upon  you  " 
he  said  slowly,  "  never  to  mention  this  affair,  if 
you  value  your  position,  for  Justice  has  greatly 
erred,  in  this  poor  man's  case ;  but  I  will  add, 
that  if  you  strictly  carry  out  my  wishes ;  I  will 
know  how  to  further  your  promotion." 

This  last  remark  of  the  Duke's  was  received 
with  all  the  slavish  obsequiousness  of  which  only 
a  Eussian  is  capable,  for  at  the  coveted  prize  of 
promotion  dangled  before  his  eyes,  the  austere 
Governor  of  the  Livona  Zamok  fell  like   a  dog 


THE  OZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRICE.  153 

before  the   Grand   Duke's   feet,  kissing  them  in 
token  of  gratitude 


CHAPTEK  XX. 

Demetrius  drove  with  lightning  speed  to  Gelta's 
hotel  in  order  to  claim  the  much  yearned  for  and 
long  delayed  kiss.  She  was  at  home  when  he  called, 
and  was  perfectly  delighted  with  the  good  news 
of  which  he  was  the  bearer,  but  still  she  was 
obdurate  to  his  pleadings. 

"No,"  she  answered,  "not  yet!  I  cannot  give 
you  the  promised  kiss,  until  I  feel  that  poor 
Isaac  Goldstein  has  safely  left  the  country. 
Go !"  she  said  coaxingly,  "  see  that  his  passport 
and  papers  are  all  ready  upon  his  release,  and 
I  will  at  once  call  on  Kabbi  Kantrowitz  so  that 
lie  may  go  to  the  prison  to  welcome  his  poor 
friend  to  his  house ; "  and  then  they  parted. 

We  will  pass  over  how  poor  Isaac  Goldstein 
fainted  for  sheer  joy,  when  he  was  told  after  a 
period  of  eight  month's  cruel  confinement  in  a 
dark,  lonely  cell,  that  he  was  that  day,  to  be  re- 
leased from  prison,  a  free  man ;  and  how  when  he 
regained  his  consciousness  he  found  himself  in 
his  friend's  house  with  the  Eabbi  bending  over 
him,  administering  restoratives,  and  how  he  for  the 
first  time  looked  upon  the  beautiful  and  heaven 
inspired  face  of  her,  who  had  taken  so  earnest  an 
interest  in  his  hopeless  incarceration.    When  he 


154  gelta:  or, 

was  told  that  his  wife  and  son  were  eagerly  await- 
ing him  in  Vienna,  his  joy  knew  no  bounds.  He 
wept  and  laughed  alternately,  and  threw  himself 
at  his  friend's  feet,  and  attempted  to  do  all  sorts 
of  extraordinary  things  to  demonstrate  the  grati- 
tude which  surged  up  within  him,  towards  those 
two  noble  beings  who  had  so  befriended  him. 

We  will  pass  over  too,  how  the  Rabbi  deter- 
mined to  keep  the  release  of  his  friend,  and 
Gelta's  intercession  for  him,  a  secret,  in  order  to 
keep  a  crowd  of  other  afflicted  Jews  from  troub- 
ling her  with  their  hopeless  sorrows. 

The  next  morning  Gelta  was  in  good  time  at 
the  railway  station,  where  she  met  the  Rabbi  with 
Isaac  Goldstein,  and  his  travelling  companion. 

The  blessings  and  sobs  from  the  poor  grateful 
traveller,  rang  in  her  ears  as  she  hurriedly  drove 
back  to  the  hotel. 

Gelta  on  her  way  home  had  experienced  a 
moment  of  supreme  joy,  when  she  remembered 
how  accidently  she  had  been  the  means  of  bring- 
ing so  much  happiness  and  beaming  hope  into 
the  hearts  of  that  poor  despairing  family.  Oh ! 
how  fervently  she  thanked  God,  for  having  so 
wonderfully  assisted  her  in  her  humble  efforts. 
And  then  she  thought  of  Demetrius,  and  her 
heart  went  out  to  him  in  gratitude ;  for  the  first 
time  a  moment  of  pride  swept  over  her  for  loving 
him,  since  he  had  so  nobly  assisted  her,  in  this 
worthy  deed,  and  her  poor  heart  sank  with  self 
pity  within  her,  as  she  sighed  :  "  Ah !  if  Demetrius 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRICE.      155 

were  only  a  Jew,  and  unfettered  by  high  sounding 
titles,  then  we  could  live,  oh,  so  happily ;  but  it 
is  useless  to  even  think  yet,"  she  mentally  con- 
cluded, "  1,  being  a  woman,  it  is  my  lot,  to  bear 
the  burden,  of  the  overladen  heart,  to  love,  and 
suffer,  in  silence." 

Grelta  had  only  returned  to  the  hotel  when  the 
Grand  Duke  Demetrius  was  announced  ;  she  knew 
that  he  had  come  to  claim  the  fulfillment  of  her 
promise.  Notwithstanding  her  disciplined  self- 
control,  her  intense  and  high  daring  spirit,  which 
always  secretly  sustained  her,  she  was  nervous 
and  agitated,  but  only  in  her  boudoir.  When  she 
entered  the  drawing  room  to  welcome  him,  she 
seemed  as  calm,  as  if  she  were  going  to  witness  a 
play. 

They  were  alone.  They  looked  at  each 
other,  their  eyes  met  at  the  same  moment,  there 
was  but  one  mode  of  satisfactorily  terminating 
their  mutual  embarrassment,  he  sprang  forward 
and  clasped  her  in  his  arms.  Ah  !  that  was  a 
moment  of  rapture,  sweet,  thrilling,  rapid ! 
Their  souls  vaulted  over  all  petty  obstacles, 
their  eyes  unconsciously  met,  and  upon  her  lips, 
her  choice  and  trembling  lips,  he  sealed  his  in- 
tense love,  and  his  everlasting  devotion. 

It  was  only  a  minute  since  she  had  entered  the 
room,  but  during  that  short  time,  they  had  lived 
an  eternity  of  love !  Not  a  word  had  been 
uttered,  for  the  mighty  rush  of  feeling  had  dazed 
them  both ;  but  now  he  seemed  to  regain  con- 


156  gelta:  or, 

sciousness,  for  from  his  lips  a  sigh  of  joy  issued, 
as  he  pressed  her  tightly  to  his  bosom,  and  then 
he  murmured. 

"  Ah,  my  darling,  why  should  we  try  to  hide 
our  intense  deep  natural  feeling  ?  Why  continue 
to  try  to  deceive  one  another?  Love,  is  the 
holiest  feeling,  which  can  unite  two  souls.  Oh ! 
dearest,  let  us  be  all  in  all  to  each  other." 

Gelta  looked  up,  her  eyes  met  his,  a  wild  ex- 
pression of  surprise,  fear,  delight,  played  over 
her  countenance,  for  she  in  the  meeting  of  his 
lips,  had  felt  the  sweet  sting  of  love.  A  whirl  of 
images  passed  before  her,  but  at  last  she  released 
herself  with  a  quick  movement  from  the  hold  of 
the  man  she  loved,  and  clasping  her  hands  to- 
gether the  thought,  "  Oh !  if  he  were  only  one  of 
my  own  religion,"  and  then  she  burst  into  a  sigh 
so  bitter,  profound  and  full  of  anguish,  and  sud- 
denly fled  from  his  sight. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

Nicholas  Boroffsky  meanwhile  continued  as 
deeply  as  ever  engaged  in  his  Nihilistic  plots  in 
Paris.  He  and  his  confederates  had  almost  per- 
fected arrangements  whereby  the  Czar  and  some 
of  the  imperial  members  were  to  perish, 
while  attending  a  great  ball  which  was  soon 
to  take  place,    He  also  had  Gelta's  movements 


THE  OZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRICE.  157 

watched  by  his  agents,  for  he  really  loved  her,  he 
knew  of  the  Grand  Duke  Demetrius's  passion  for 
her,  and  he  smiled  a  cynical  smile,  at  this  young 
man's  suffering,  for  he  knew  too  well  the  force  of 
character  of  Gelta,  knew  that  the  Jewish  instinct 
was  too  strong  in  her,  to  choose  a  man  other  than 
a  Hebrew.  His  own  love  for  her  had  grown 
stronger,  since  they  had  last  met,  for  when  dis- 
tance hides  the  loved  object  from  view,  it  is  then, 
we  conjure  up  the  many  dangers  with  which  the 
idol  is  surrounded.  He  felt  inwardly  grateful  to 
Gelta  that  she  had  resisted  his  solicitations,  for 
he  had  now  two  great  aims  in  life,  one  to  give 
tyranny  its  death  blow,  by  killing  the  Czar,  and  the 
other  through  his  many  kind  acts  toward  the 
poor  Jews,  eventually  to  win  Gelta  for  his  wife. 

Mrs.  Wilson  was  one  of  the  many  ladies  in  St. 
Petersburg  with  whom  Boroffsky  constantly  cor- 
responded, and  to  whom  he  frequently  sent  little 
Parisian  knick-knacks,  as  a  silent  token  of  his 
admiration,  for  he  was  too  much  a  man  of  the 
world,  not  to  understand,  that  married  women 
generally,  are  sensitive  and  eagerly  appreciate 
the  admiration,  and  presents,  of  their  adorers,  as 
compensation  for  the  neglect  of  their  own  hus- 
bands. 

To  Mrs.  Wilson's  credit,  be  it  said,  she  never 
for  a  moment  suspected  the  instrument  she  was 
innocently  made,  and  her  mere  confidential  cor- 
respondence concerning  the  inner  movements  of 
St.  Petersburg  society,  was  of  immense  value  to 


158  gelta:  or, 

Boroffsky.  Gelta,  however,  from  the  very  day 
that  Mrs.  Wilson  had  mentioned  Boroffsky's 
friendship,  suspected,  that  Mrs.  Wilson  was  in 
some  way  implicated,  with  the  Nihilists,  and  she 
therefore  determined,  to  keep  aloof  from  her,  as 
much  as  was  consistent,  with  keeping  her  from 
suspecting  her  real  motive. 

Directly  after  Gelta' s  pronounced  success,  she 
had  accepted  a  number  of  invitations  to  meet 
Russian  society.  Like  all  foreigners  she  was  at 
first  greatly  impressed  with  the  general  hos- 
pitality, and  kindness  of  heart,  of  the  Russian 
families  towards  strangers,  like  the  French,  the 
Russians  would  say  those  pleasant-sounding, 
meaningless  things,  on  being  introduced. 

A  dinner  party  in  Russia  differed  very  little  in 
its  menu,  from  the  French,  but  the  conversations 
to  an  intelligent,  and  pure-minded  person,  were 
very  painful,  and  uninteresting,  for,  as  politics 
were  most  dangerous  subjects  to  talk  about,  con- 
versation took  the  form  of  depicting  the  latest 
Parisian  gown,  or  discussing  some  newly  dis- 
covered flirtation,  or  paying  insincere  personal 
compliments.  The  overstrained  sentiments,  the 
caricatures  of  affection,  the  familiarity  with  vice 
were  the  staple  of  their  "feast  of  reason,"  and 
flow  of   thought. 

Gelta  had  often  silently  remarked  with  as- 
tonishment, the  excessive  want  of  general 
information  among  gentlemen ;  many  of  them 
seemed   to    know    nothing    at    all,  beyond  the 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATEICE.  159 

frontier  of  the  Empire ;  knowledge  was  decidedly 
at  a  discount.  Their  showy  exterior,  their  bril- 
liant accomplishments  of  music,  and  dancing, 
their  fluency  in  speaking  so  many  foreign 
languages,  were  apt  to  strike  with  surprise,  and 
obtain  them  credit  for  possessing,  all  those  solid 
acquirements,  which  with  other  nations  are  the 
sine  qua-non  of  a  good  education.  Converse  on 
any  scientific  subject,  would  astonish  every  one, 
for  it  soon  demonstrated  how  very  little  real 
knowledge  they  possessed, 

Another  peculiar  trait  in  the  Russian  character 
which  greatly  astonished  Gelta,  was  that  a 
Russian,  will  frequently  pretend,  an  intimate 
acquaintance  with  a  subject,  of  which  he  is  per- 
fectly ignorant,  yet  so  well  will  he  conceal  this 
fact,  that  he  will  keep  up  the  deception,  for  an 
incredible  time  ;  when  all  at  once  he  will  ask 
some  extraordinarily  stupid  question,  which 
shows  you  that  he  has  not  understood  a  single 
syllable,  of  all,  that  has  been  said. 

The  Russian  women  are  very  benevolent,  and 
charitable.  However  the  immoral  conduct,  and 
the  inconceivable  want  of  delicacy  of  many  of 
the  ladies  of  rank,  cannot  fail  to  have  a  very  un- 
favorable influence,  on  others  below  them, 
especially,  as  the  nobility  is  regarded  as  the 
criterion  of  what  is  right ;  for  they  pass  their 
existence  in  reclining  on  the  sofa  smoking 
cigarettes,  and  reading  some  silly  low  French 
novel  (for  it  seems   the  rule  with   the   Censor's 


160  gelta:  ob, 

office,  to  let  all  the  books  and  French  novels  pass, 
that  are  likely  to  increase  the  demoralization  of 
the  nation,  and  to  exclude  all  those,  that  would 
tend,  to  its  enlightenment),  or  when  in  company, 
they  resort  to  the  card-table.  To  this  general 
rule,  there  are  of  course  many  exceptions ;  for 
Russia  possesses  many  a  virtuous,  and  noble 
hearted  woman,  who  is  an  ornament,  and  a 
pattern,  to  her  sex.  But  in  speaking  of  a  nation, 
one  takes  the  majority,  and  how  can  it  be  other- 
wise, in  a  country,  where  so  absurd  a  department 
exists,  as  that  of  Censor!  through  which  all 
books  and  papers  must  pass,  before  they  reach 
the  community. 

The  extreme  fear  of  the  government,  lest  the 
nation  should  become  too  enlightened,  will  some 
time  or  other  meet  with  its  just  reward,  and  it  is 
to  be  hoped,  that  the  time  is  not  far  distant,  for 
Russia  may  as  well  attempt  to  curb  the  waves  of 
the  Atlantic,  as  to  stem  the  tide  of  civilization,  in 
its  course  round  the  world. 

To  a  high  minded  woman  like  Gelta,  these 
gatherings  of  shallow  minded  beings,  was  exceed- 
ingly distasteful,  and  offering  the  fatigue,  occa- 
sioned by  her  evening  performance,  as  an  ex- 
cuse, she  managed  without  offending  them,  to 
absent  herself  from  their  uninteresting  midst. 


THE  CZAR  AND   THE   CANTATRICE.  161 


CHAPTEE  XXII. 

Nearly  a  month  had  passed  since  Gelta  had 
kept  her  promise  in  giving  Demetrius  his  well 
earned  kiss,  and  then  had  fled  from  his  presence. 
Of  course  he  immediately  wrote  to  her  imploring 
her  pardon,  if  he  had  unconsciously  offended  her, 
and  many  a  letter  of  his  followed,  in  which  he 
brought  all  his  reasoning  power  to  demonstrate 
the  purity  of  his  thoughts  towards  her.  He 
besought  her  to  consider  that  angels  in  heaven 
gave  each  other  the  kiss  as  an  emblem  of  divine 
love,  that  holy  pilgrims  indulge  in  kissing  their 
saints,  etc. 

What  made  her  relent  and  forgive  his  impe- 
tuosity, was  when  a  couple  of  weeks  later,  she 
received  a  photograph  group  containing  the  now 
happy  faces  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Goldstein  and  their 
son,  with  the  inscription  written  underneath,  "to 
our  guardian  angel,"  and  a  long  letter  wherein 
they  told  her  how  happy,  and  comfortable  they 
now  lived,  united  once  more,  and  that  they  had 
all  three  made  a  solemn  vow,  to  fast  a  whole  day 
out  of  each  week*  during  an  entire  year,  and  offer 
constant  prayers  to  God,  for  her  everlasting 
happiness.  Tears  of  joy  streamed  down  Gelta's 
face,  while  reading  their  very  touching  senti- 
ments of  gratitude,  and  as  she  sat  gazing  at  the 
group  of  faces  in  the  photograph,  she  thought 


162  gelta:  or, 

how,  through  God's  divine  will,  and  her  humble 
efforts,  these  three  human  beings  had  been 
snatched  from  a  barbarous  death.  And  with  the 
thought,  came  the  remembrance  of  how  Demetriua 
had  nobl  j  done  his  share,  and  her  heart  relented, 
and  went  out  to  him  in  gratitude,  and  so  he  was 
forgiven  and  allowed  to  call  on  condition  that 
the  compact  of  platonic  love  should  be  sacredly 
adhered  to,  and  so  the  repentant  Demetrius 
managed  daily  to  see  as  much  of  his  idol,  as  he 
possibly  could. 

For  about  a  week  after  Gelta  had  forgiven  him, 
he  was  very  quiet  and  reserved,  for  in  her  pres- 
ence he  now  feared  himself,  and  his  love  never 
took  the  shape  of  tender  expressions,  which  are 
the  daily  bread  of  human  happiness,  but  as  he 
silently  observed  that  her  faith  and  trust  in  him 
grew  stronger  each  day,  he  became  bolder  in  his 
expressions  against  the  durability  of  platonic 
love. 

It  was  one  afternoon  towards  the  end  of  March 
that  Gelta  on  returning  from  one  of  her  peregrin- 
ations which  she  always  insisted  on  making  alone, 
found  the  devoted  Demetrius  in  her  drawing 
room  patiently  awaiting  her  arrival;  after  due 
salutations  and  enquiries,  and  while  sipping 
some  deliciously  brewed  tea,  he  began  as  had 
been  his  wont  of  late,  to  denounce  Platonism. 
He  said  that  since  he  found  that  Gelta  did  not 
approve  of  his  theories  of  angels  in  heaven  who 
gave  each  other  the  kiss  as  a  divine  emblem  of 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRICE.  163 

love,  justly  reasoning  that  the  angels  did  not  re- 
quire demonstrative  emblems  in  order  to  recog- 
nize divine  love,  his  faith  in  Platonic  love  had 
began  to  waver.  After  having  that  afternoon  sat 
without  uttering  a  word  for  some  time,  he  sud- 
denly exclaimed, 

"  Gelta,  we  are  unwittingly  persuing  a  delusion! 
for  Platonic  loving  is  a  monstrous,  unnatural  state, 
it  resembles  the  balancing  of  a  clown,  who  stands 
on  tiptoe  on  an  ignited  bomb  shell.  The  possi- 
bility of  his  standing  there  is  granted,  but  how 
long  can  it  last  ?  " 

"Do  not  disturb  my  peace  of  mind,"  she  re- 
plied, "  I  am  content  to  pass  my  existence  there. 
Besides,"  she  continued  in  a  sweet  plaintive  voice, 
"if  you  will  recall  your  memory  you  will  find 
that  it  was  you  who  first  proposed  Platonic  love, 
and  pleaded  so  long  with  me,  to  accept  its  bonds 
with  you.  As  for  myself,  before  you  mentioned 
it,  I  was  not  aware  that  Platonic  love  existed,  but 
now  that  I  have  accepted  its  conditions,  my  char- 
acteristic Jewish  constancy,  does  not  permit  me 
to  easily  retract,  what  I  have  once  accepted. 
However,  if  as  you  say,  to  continue  its  relation- 
ship threatens  danger  for  you,"  she  added  quickly 
as  at  that  moment  he  looked  inquiringly  into  her 
eyes,  "if  the  danger  to  you,"  she  repeated,  "seems 
so  imminent,"  then,  she  slowly  added,  in  measured 
tones,  "  we  must  not  meet  alone — I  cannot  allow, 
your  visits  to  me  to  continue  any  longer."  He 
bit  his  lips,  but  offered  no  comment. 


164  gelta:  ob, 

"What  a  vast  difference,"  she  softly  said  with  a 
sigh  of  regret,  "  there  is  between  a  woman's  love 
for  a  man,  and  a  man's  love  for  a  woman.  With 
a  woman,  when  she  loves,  there  is  no  self-sacri- 
fice, that  she  would  not  gladly  undergo,  for  his 
sake,  in  order  to  raise  him  in  the  eyes  of  God, 
and  the  world,  to  the  highest  post  of  honor." 

"I  do  not  understand  you,"  he  murmured. 

"I  will  explain  myself  more  clearly,"  she  an- 
swered. "I  will  become  personal.  If  you  are 
really  sincere  in  your  wish  which  you  have  so 
often  broached  to  me,  that  you  are  willing  to  for- 
feit all  your  titles  and  wealth,  you  see  I  choose 
for  the  moment  to  ignore  the  difference  of  reli- 
gion, which  separates  us.  If,"  she  repeated,"  you 
are  really  sincere  in  wanting  to  forfeit  your  social 
position,  in  order  that  you  may  be  able  to  lead 
an  obscure  life,  in  some  distant  country  with  me, 
as  your  wife,  I  cannot  but  acknowledge  that 
yours,  is  a  great  love,  but  I  will  prove  to  you  that 
my  love  for  you  is  far  greater:  inasmuch,  as  I 
would  never  accept,  your  proffered  sacrifice, 
which  would  lead  you  into  a  selfish  aimless  life: 
but  on  the  contrary,  I  wish  my  love,  to  be  the  in- 
centive, leading  you  to  perform  grand,  and  noble, 
deeds;  lifting  you  upon  the  highest  pinnacle  of 
glory,  which  lies  within  man's  power  to  attain,  in 
this  world." 

"  I  do  not  follow  your  idea,"  he  interposed. 

"  Pray  do  not  interrupt  me,"  she  replied,  "  un- 
til  I  shall  have   explained   myself  more  fully." 


THE  CZAB  AND  THE  CANTATRICE.  165 

With  a  slow  submissive  bow  of  the  head  he 
acquiesced  and  Gelta  began.  "The  man,"  she 
said,  "  who  has  had  the  power  to  penetrate  my 
soul,  I  look  upon  as  one  of  nature's  greatest 
noble  men ;  and  I  crave  the  world  at  large,  should 
know  him  as  such,  that  his  name,  should  live  in 
loving  veneration,  in  the  hearts  of  humanity,  for 
centuries  to  come.  What  are  you  at  present  ?  " 
she  asked,  with  a  deep  sad  sigh,  "  a  member  of 
the  Imperial  family,  aye,  one  of  many!  in  the 
eyes  of  most  people.  You  are  only  another 
coming  despot.  Oh!  how  deeply  it  pains  me, 
when  I  think  that  others  cannot  see  your  nobility 
of  heart,  and  mind,  as  I  do ;  when  I  think  that 
others  do  not  esteem,  and  love  you,  as  you  de- 
serve, but  dearest,  the  world  shall  love,  and 
reverence  you !  and  it  will  be  through  your  own 
merit  and  good  deeds !  " 

Meanwhile  he  sat  opposite  her  with  his  head 
resting  on  his  hands  and  his  eyes  rivetted  on  the 
rug  at  his  feet,  each  word  of  hers  penetrated  his 
soul,  for  it  was  the  first  time  he  had  heard  from 
her  own  lips,  that  she  really  loved  him.  He  did 
not  move  or  utter  a  word,  in  order  not  to  frighten 
her  and  thereby  check  the  flow  of  her  soul. 

"You  told  me,"  she  continued,  growing  elo- 
quent with  her  thoughts,  "you  told  me,"  she 
repeated,  "after  the  release  of  Isaac  Goldstein, 
that  a  wave  of  intense  pity  swept  over  your  soul 
in  witnessing  the  wretched  lot  of  the  poor  per- 
secuted Jews,  and  you  said  you  felt  grateful  to  me 


166  gelta:  or, 

for  having  aroused,  that  deep,  human  feeling,  for 
your  fellow  sufferers ;  of  which  before,  you  did 
not  think  yourself  capable." 

"  Yes,  caro  mio,"  she  murmured  as  she  dropped 
on  the  rug  at  his  feet  and  leaning  her  beautiful 
head  on  his  knees  in  abandon  of  womanly  trust, 
she  repeated,  "well,  my  dearest,  let  me  still 
further  influence  you  for  good,  for  in  the  natural 
course  of  things  sooner  or  later,  you  will  yourself 
wield  the  sceptre  over  Eussia.  Therefore  I  want 
you  to  promise  me,"  she  said  with  impassioned 
fervor,  "  when  that  blessed  time  arrives,  that 
you  will  emancipate  yourself  from  the  barbarous 
traditions  of  your  misguided  ancestors,  that  you 
will  spread  a  new  era,  filled  with  kindness  and 
human  compassion  over  the  now  desolate  Eussia. 
I  want  you  to  promise  me,  that  you  will  grant 
the  full  and  just  right  of  honored  citizenship  to 
the  descendents  of  the  unjustly  persecuted  House 
of  Israel." 

He  tenderly  but  silently  pressed  her  hand  as  if 
in  sympathetic  touch  with  her  own  thoughts  and 
feelings,  and  she  continued  to  express  her  heart's 
desire. 

"  Look  at  history,"  she  suddenly  said,  "  review 
the  tens  of  thousands  of  great  men  who  were 
prominent  during  their  time,  and  who  held 
humanity  awe-struck  in  their  tyranneous  grip. 
What,"  Gelta  exclaimed,  growing  animated 
and  eloquent  with  her  subject.  "What  are 
their   names   to    the   world   now   that   they    are 


THE  CZAB  AND  THE  CANTATBICE.      167 

no  more?  Is  it  a  Pharaoh,  or  a  Nero,  or  a 
Richelieu,  or  a  Henry  the  Eighth,  at  the  sound 
of  whose  name  we  now  feel  a  glow  of  veneration  ? 
No  1 "  she  continued  with  a  half  dreamy  faraway 
look  as  if  gazing  at  a  world  beyond  the  boun- 
daries of  earth  from  whence  she  drew  her  inspi- 
ration. "  No !  their  names  are  as  dead,  as  they 
are  themselves ;  vanished  from  the  reverence  of 
the  world,  vanished  from  its  memory,  vanished 
with  their  tyrannical  deeds  deep  into  the  bowels 
of  mother  earth.  The  world  cares  not  for  them, 
seldom  recalls  that  they  ever  existed,  for  the 
world  is  cold,  and  therefore,  it  craves  for  love,  deep, 
warm,  grand,  intense  love.  That  is  the  only 
thing  which  can  continue  forever  to  rule.  Love, 
is  the  only  thing,  which  leaves  its  stamp  upon 
vanishing  centuries.  Aye,"  she  continued  with 
great  enthusiasm,  "  only  one  man  of  humble 
birth,  realized  the  great  secret  of  love  more  than 
eighteen  hundred  years  ago!  and  that  is  the 
reason  why  humanity  worships  Him,  His  name, 
His  every  act  to-day.  Christ  lives  in  the  hearts 
of  most  men,  as  if  he  were  in  the  midsts  of  their 
families,  and  the  secret  of  all  this  worship  is, 
because  he  tried  to  rule  with  love!  Had  he 
adopted  a  dictatorial  attitude  of  command  or 
compulsion,  instead  of  kind  persuasiveness,  what 
would  His  name  be  to-day  any  more  than  that  of 
a  Pilate,  a  CsBsar  or  a  Titus.  His  name  would 
have  been  crowded  on  the  shelf  of  oblivion  with 
thousands  of  others ;  but  instead  of  that,  through 


168  gelta:  or, 

the  simple  secret  of  love,  His  name  stands  out 
boldly,  His  noble  image  is  engraven  on  the  hearts 
of  humanity,  and  His  memory  will  continue  fresh 
forever.  Then  why  should  you  not,"  she  said, 
looking  up  pleadingly  to  the  silently  absorbed 
Demetrius, "  why  should  you  not  follow  the  noble 
example  set  by  this  great  good  man,  whom  you 
worship  as  a  God.  Look  at  the  representation 
of  Him,"  she  exclaimed  caressingly  taking  hold 
of  a  little  golden  cross  with  a  raised  Christus  on 
it,  which  hung  as  a  charm  from  his  heavy  watch 
chain,  "  look  at  it!  "  she  repeated,  "  how  wearily 
He  hangs  His  head,  He  is  so  tired,  so  very  tired, 
of  the  lip  service,  with  which  you  fashionable 
Christians  attack  Him  daily.  That  was  not  the 
creed  he  craved  to  disseminate,  through  the 
pitiless  cold  world !  He  does  not  want  you  to 
decorate  your  churches,  or  house  walls,  or  parade 
streets,  with  banners  with  the  Christian  emblems 
on  them.  No  !  it  is  your  proud  cold  hearts,  which 
He  desires  you  to  clothe  with  human  compassion 
and  Christian  love.  A  good  deed  be  it  ever  so 
tiny,  or  emanating  from  the  humblest  of  beings, 
is  to  Him  far  more  than  eloquent  prayers  from 
the  proudest  in  the  land,  or  the  hymns  of  a  crowd 
of  fashionable  hypocritical  devotees." 

The  Count  Demetrius  who  had  been  sitting  for 
some  time  silently  listening  to  the  eloquent  flow 
of  her  soul  was  about  to  speak,  when  Gelta  with 
pleading  voice,  asked  him  not  to  interrupt  her 
until  she  had  finished.     Then  with  her  clasped 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRICE.  169 

hands  resting  on  his  right  knee,  she  earnestly 
looked  up  into  his  face,  as  if  she  would  probe  for 
his  very  soul,  then  she  continued  to  pour  out  the 
flow  of  her  thoughts. 

"  Now  dear,"  she  said,  "  instead  of  encouraging 
you  to  pass  a  selfish  obscure  life  in  some  strange 
distant  land,  I  want  you  to  remain  at  your  post  of 
duty,  here  in  Russia.  You  must  not  think  of 
yourself,  but  of  the  ninety  million  souls,  whose 
happiness,  and  welfare,  it  will  be  in  your  power 
to  advance,  that  thought  alone,  ought  to  make  your 
own  individual  feelings,  shrink  into  nought,  for 
true  happiness  consists,  in  making  others  happy. 

"The  time  will  arrive  when  Russia  will  look  to 
you  as  its  dictator.  It  is  then  you  will  need  the 
strength  of  character,  which  I  crave  to  impress 
upon  your  noble  heart,  to  break  away  from  the 
despotism  of  the  past.  Let  sympathy  for  the 
suffering  be  the  sceptre  which  you  will  wield ;  it 
is  then  only,  that  you  will  become  a  true  Chris- 
tian. By  nobly  putting  into  practice  the  divine 
teachings  of  Christ,  you  will  serve  Judaism  ;  for 
true  Christianity  is  merely  transposed  Judaism, 
or  it  is  nothing ;  both  are  one,  and  the  same,  and 
mean  a  pure,  and  ideal  life,  to  work,  to  help,  to 
suffer,  for  the  happiness  of  others." 

"But  Gelta,  I  love  you,"  Demetrius  suddenly 
exclaimed  as  if  awakening  from  a  silent  dream, 
"  I  love  you,  with  you  as  an  inspiration  at  my 
side,  I  am  capable  of  accomplishing  all  that  you 
have  just  depicted,  for  you  are  the  life  of  my 


170  gelta:  or, 

yearning  soul,  without  you,  Gelta,  I  cannot  live," 
and  throwing  himself  on  the  rug  at  her  feet,  from 
which  she  had  just  risen  like  a  frightened  bird, 
at  his  unexpected  outburst,  he  kissed  her  hands 
most  passionately. 

"  Oh !  Gelta,"  he  murmured  as  he  gently  drew 
her  in  his  arms,  "  your  sublime  love  for  suffering 
humanity,  is  so  divinely  deep,  so  brimming  over 
with  compassion,  that  it  is  awe-inspiring.  But 
can  you  not,"  he  asked  in  a  low,  musical  voice, 
"bestow  a  touch  of  it  on  this  poor  sufferer?  I  am 
only  human,"  he  pleaded  with  a  sad  sigh,  "al- 
though at  times  I  think  I  was  born  to  conquer 
nations,  but  when  I  am  near  you  I  find  how  weak 
and  helpless  I  am,  for  I  cannot  even  conquer  my 
own  self,"  and  then  he  clasped  her  most  tenderly 
to  his  bosom. 

"  Swear  to  me,"  she  said,  her  mind  still  occu- 
pied with  the  thought  of  Eussia's  oppressed 
souls,  "swear  to  me,"  she  repeated,  "that  when 
the  time  comes  for  you  to  govern  Russia,  that 
you  will  inaugurate  a  Human  Era,  and  that  you 
will  love  the  chosen  people  of  God  as  you  do 
Jesus  Christ,  who  was  a  son  of  the  noble  House  of 
Israel." 

"I  solemnly  swear!"  he  answered,  "by  my  own 
mother,  who  next  to  you  is  the  only  woman  whose 
sacred  image  is  engraven  on  my  heart.  I  swear!" 
he  repeated,  "that  if  ever  the  time  comes  when  I 
shall  be  called  to  govern  Russia,  I  will  encourage 
Progress  and  Enlightenment  among  my  subjects, 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRICE.  171 

and  bring  them  freedom  of  thought,  and  expres- 
sion I  It  shall  be  a  reign  of  merciful  justice,  and 
human  kindness  towards  all ! ' 

At  his  solemnly  sworn  promise,  Gelta  impul- 
sively threw  her  arms  for  the  first  time  round  his 
neck,  bursting  into  tears  of  gratitude,  she  hid  her 
face  upon  his  breast.  He  did  not  disturb  this 
effusion  of  her  suppressed  emotions.  His  throb- 
bing heart  responded  to  her  tumultuous  soul!  At 
last,  when  the  strength  of  ner  passionate  abandon 
had  somewhat  decreased,  when  the  convulsive 
sobs  had  subsided  into  gentle  sighs,  and  ever  and 
anon  he  felt  the  pressure  of  her  sweet  lips,  seal- 
ing her  gratitude  and  love  upon  his  bosom,  she 
said  in  a  smothered  voice:  "No  matter  Demetrius, 
if  I  shall  be  far  away,  or  near  you,  whether  I 
shall  be  alive,  or  not,  always  remember  the 
solemn  promise  you  have  just  given." 

"  Yes,"  he  whispered,  "  I  will  for  your  sake," 
and  then  he  pressed  her  more  tenderly  to  his 
heart,  the  rapture  within  him  growing  stronger 
and  stronger.  "  I  will  do  all  for  your  sake,"  he 
murmured,  "  for  you  are  my  queen  !  the  greatest 
queen,  of  your  beautiful  sex."  And  as  he  gazed 
into  her  superb  dark  Jewish  eyes,  lit  up  with 
the  fire  of  love,  and  at  her  beautiful  rosy  warm 
lips  he  asked  hoarsely, 

"May  I?" 

"  No,  no !  "  she  quickly  replied  with  a  tremulous 
sigh,  as  she  pushed  him  with  downcast  eyes 
gently   from   her,   "Remember,"   she  murmured 


172  gelta:  or, 

pleadingly,  "  Tour  word  of  honor,  never  to  insist 
for  a  kiss  again,  unless  I  take  the  initiative." 

"  Great  God,"  he  exclaimed  in  agitated  tones, 
"  My  word  of  honor,  how  can  a  man  battle 
against  the  law  of  his  being,  and  resist  the  draw- 
ing of  the  magnet?  its  influence  of  love?  " 

"Well  I  can  resist,"  Gelta  severely  replied^ 
"  and  that  is  just  the  difference  between  people, 
who  carry  their  honor  and  their  religion  home 
from  church  in  their  prayer  book,  and  others,  who 
simply  have  honor  and  religion  engraven  upon 
their  hearts."  That  instant  Gelta  looked  so  saintly, 
that  he  felt  a  pang  of  remorse  for  the  warm  and 
trivial  words  he  had  uttered.  He  had  no  other 
excuse  but  that  of  his  frankness.  He  had  but 
clothe  the  thoughts  of  his  heart,  and  as  he  felt 
himself  becoming  overpowered  by  one  absorbing 
desire — to  press  her  to  his  bosom,  he  abruptly 
quitted  her  presence,  before  it  should  be  too  late. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

It  was  the  last  week  in  March.  The  musical 
season  was  drawing  to  an  end,  another  two  weeks 
and  the  Opera  House  would  close  until  the 
autumn.  All  the  foreign  singers  would  then  take 
their  departure,  leaving  many  admirers  and  well- 
wishers  behind. 

Gelta  partially  welcomed  the  Jin  de  saison.  She 
felt  instinctively  that  for  some   time   past,   her 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRICE.      173 

position  toward  Demetrius  had  become  harder  to 
bear.  Many  a  time  during  her  prayers,  or  in  the 
silence  of  the  night,  she  would  reproach  herself 
for  having  ever  listened  to  his  passionate  plead- 
ings, and  thereby  unconsciously  encouraged  him ; 
and  at  the  thought  she  felt  a  deep  pain  in  her 
heart,  for  she  well  knew  that  for  a  Jewess,  to  en- 
courage a  love,  which  cannot  be  reciprocated,  is 
considered,  a  mortal  sin ;  and  the  remorse  cut 
deep  into  her  soul,  and  she  wept  bitterly ;  for  she 
felt  conscious  that  notwithstanding  all  obstacles, 
she  loved  him !  and  that  feeling  had  taken  hold 
of  her,  independent  of  her  will.  She  might  hide 
the  deep  emotion  from  others,  but  it  was  utterly 
impossible,  to  hide  it  from  herself,  and  when  she 
felt  most  overwhelmed  with  grief  and  remorse, 
the  three  faces  of  the  Goldstein  family  would 
appear  in  her  mind's  eye,  like  three  absolving 
angels,  and  she  would  then  quiet  her  conscience 
by  the  fact,  that  at  least  three  sufferers  had 
derived  a  benefit  from  her  love,  for  this  noblo 
hearted  Gentile. 

Gelta  had  determined  to  see  as  little  of  Deme- 
trius before  her  departure  as  was  possible  to 
witho  at  seriously  causing  him  any  pain.  She  felt 
happy  in  the  promise  which  she  had  extracted 
from  him,  if  he  should  one  day  rule  Russia,  and 
she  knew  he  would  keep  his  word  which  he  had 
so  solemnly  given  her.  Even  if  he  should  never 
see  her  again,  she  believed  that  he  would  keep 
his  promise. 


174:  gelta:  or, 

Gelta  had  promised  to  attend  the  Princess 
Zenaide  Stepanovna  Starabielsky's  ball,  which 
was  to  take  place  in  her  palace,  the  night  after  the 
closing  of  the  Opera  season,  having  received  a  very 
pressing  invitation  from  the  Princess  herself,  who 
also  intimated  that  although  it  was  still  a  court 
secret,  the  Emperor  would  be  there,  and  that  it 
was  an  event  in  one's  life  to  see  the  Emperor's 
most  gracious  attentions  to  the  ladies  assembled 
in  a  ball-room. 

Gelta  had  a  stronger  reason  for  wishing  to  meet 
the  Emperor  again,  they  had  met  on  several 
occasions  behind  the  scenes  at  the  Opera,  and 
once  at  a  reception,  but  as  he  was  always  sur- 
rounded by  a  crowd  of  courtiers,  very  few  words 
were  exchanged  between  them.  But  now,  before 
her  departure,  she  intended  to  ask  the  Czar,  for  a 
personal  audience,  in  order  to  plead  with  him  on 
behalf  of  the  poor  Russian  Jews. 

Mrs.  Wilson  continued  to  visit  Gelta  quite 
often,  but  although  Gelta  always  received  her 
English  friend  most  graciously,  she  never  allowed 
that  feminine  intimacy  to  spring  up  between  them, 
and  she  never  now  accepted,  any  of  the  many 
invitations  for  drives,  dinners,  etc.,  which  Mrs. 
Wilson  always  took  such  pains  to  offer  her.  The 
fact  was,  that  Gelta  in  her  very  heart,  suspected 
Mrs.  Wilson  of  being  one  of  Boroffsky's  agents ; 
and  she  therefore  determined,  to  keep  herself 
aloof,  from  their  plottings.  Since  the  day  when 
Mrs.  Wilson  had  mentioned  her  friend's  name  to 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATEICE.  175 

her,  Gelta  had  never  in  any  of  her  many  chats  re- 
ferred to  Boroffsky;  and  so  Mrs.  Wilson  con- 
cluded, with  true  feminine  penetration,  that  he 
must  have  desired  to  be  more  than  a  simple  ad- 
mirer of  the  beautiful  American,  and  that  ac- 
counted for  Gelta's  distaste  of  ever  mentioning 
his  name,  and  so  there  had  sprung  up  a  silent 
understanding,  between  them,  never  to  mention 
the  man's  name  with  whom  they  mentally  asso- 
ciated each  other. 

It  was  a  week  before  the  Princess  Starabielsky's 
ball  was  to  be  given,  and  it  had  been  decided  by 
Boroffsky,  and  his  faithful  followers,  that  the  fatal 
bomb,  which  was  to  transport  the  Czar  and  his 
family  into  eternity,  was  to  salute  his  Majesty,  as 
he  seated  himself  on  the  improvised  throne  at  the 
head  of  the  ball  room.  They  were  sanguine  of 
ultimato  success,  for  the  leading  professor  of 
chemistry,  in  St.  Petersburg,  Yladimir  Koretyki 
whose  name  and  zealous  devotedness  to  the  Czar 
his  master,  were  household  words,  was  one  of 
their  chief  conspirators,  he  had  also  initiated  into 
the  cause,  one  of  the  Russian  belles  at  court,  a 
sister-in-law  of  Princess  Starabielsky's,  who  had 
been  married  to  her  husband,  Prince  de  Socoloff 
for  over  fifteen  years,  and  who  was  the  bien-aimee 
for  the  last  three  years,  of  the  elegant  and  witty 
Yladimir  Koretyki;  and  so  the  Nihilists  were 
justified  in  their  feverish  anticipations,  of  the 
blow  that  was  to  proclaim,  right  over  might 


176  GELTA  :  OR, 


CHAPTEE  XXIV. 

One  night  while  Demetrius  was  sadly  reflecting 
upon  the  end  of  the  musical  season  drawing  so 
near,  he  was  seized  with  a  sudden  determination, 
for  he  knew  that  Gelta  intended  immediately  after 
the  closing  of  the  Opera,  to  return  to  Paris,  and  he 
also  felt,  that  when  once  there,  she  would  escape 
him  forever ;  for  he  knew  that  this  daughter  of 
Israel,  would  undergo  all  the  tortures  of  the 
flesh,  in  order  not  to  marry  out  of  her  religion,  so 
as  not  to  offend  her  God.  He  paced  nervously  up 
and  down  his  room,  torn  by  contending  emotions. 
It  seemed  impossible  for  him  to  live  apart  from 
her,  for  the  first  thought  on  waking  was  of  Gelta ; 
amidst  all  his  material  occupations,  her  face  was 
before  him;  her  name  rested  unspoken  on  his 
lips,  and  at  night,  the  last  thought  before  sleep 
came  to  woo  him,  was  of  her.  The  visions  in  his 
sleep  were  of  her,  and  the  night  belonged  to  her 
as  much  as  the  day.  Each  of  these  various 
dreams  was  of  love,  at  times  glowing,  then  des- 
pairing, at  times  victorious,  then  doubtful ;  at 
times  so  happy  that  he  would  awake  with  pal- 
pitating heart,  and  then  so  sad  that  he  would  cry, 
and  sob  and  bewail  the  time  when  he  should  be 
doomed  to  wear  a  crown,  to  be  dragged  down  by 
its  weight ;  and  thereby  be  separated  from  the 
partner  of  his  soul,  then  worn  out  by  grief,  the 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRICE.  177 

quiet  of  the  night  took  up  his  sighs  and  sobs  and 
poured  them  into  the  mighty  ocean  of  forgetful- 
ness,  where  all  vanishes,  and  all  is  re-born. 
Awaking,  and  having  for  several  hours  paced  up 
and  down  his  room,  he  made  an  awful  resolve,  he 
felt  that  he  knew  women  too  well,  not  to  under- 
stand, that  this  sweet,  pure  girl,  would  never  con- 
sent because  of  her  religious  scruples,  to  become 
his  wife,  but,  thought  he,  his  face  assuming  a 
sterner  aspect,  as  the  idea  became  more  fixed  in 
his  mind,  "  if  her  first  stubbornness  can  be  over- 
come, we  shall  live  happy  ever  after."  And  with 
this  determined  idea  he  went  to  call  on  Gelta, 
whom  he  had  not  found  at  home  for  the  last  two 
days. 

When  Demetrius  was  shown  into  her  drawing- 
room  he  found  her  robed  in  a  silver  blue  crepe  de 
Chine  tea  gown ;  she  was  busily  writing,  and  had 
just  finished  a  letter  to  the  Goldstein  family, 
wherein  she  enclosed  several  letters  of  introduc- 
tion to  a  number  of  eminent  critics,  and  one  to 
the  Director  of  the  Yienna  Opera  House,  warmly 
recommending  to  them  the  promising  young 
pianist ;  for  Gelta  never  tired  in  her  efforts  to  do 
good.  She  rose  and  welcomed  Demetrius  with 
calm  composure,  but  the  sudden  sparkle  of  her 
eyes  and  the  flush  on  her  cheeks,  betrayed  the 
secret  of  her  heart. 

A  first  ray  of  spring  sunshine  pierced  its  way 
through  the  golden  plush  curtains  in  such  a 
manner  that  it  fell  full  on  Gelta' s  face ;  she  had 


178  gelta:  or, 

never  before  appeared  so  radiantly  beautiful  to 
him.  He  drew  a  chair  up  close  beside  her  and 
taking  both  her  hands  in  his,  gazed  into  her  face 
long  and  earnestly. 

"What  is  troubling  you?"  she  asked,  sym- 
pathetically. 

"  Your  going  to  leave  Eussia  so  soon,"  he  an- 
swered, with  a  heavy  sigh. 

Gelta  slowly  withdrew  her  hands  and  ex- 
claimed, lightly : 

"  Oh,  don't  think  about  it,  we  shall  soon  meet 
again." 

"  But  what  is  the  use  of  building  hopes  of  soon 
meeting  again,"  he  wistfully  replied,  "when  we 
are  already  here  ?" 

She  mutely  stared  at  him,  while  her  mind  was 
devising  how  to  ask  him  to  leave,  without  seriously 
offending  him,  with  a  sad  dejected  mien  and  with 
a  muffled  voice  which  had  a  tinge  of  despair  in  it 
he  moaned. 

"  Ah !  your  love,  Gelta,  is  not  so  deep  as  mine — 
it  cannot  be,  for  if  I  thought  it  were — " 

"  If  you  thought  it  were,"  she  quietly  repeated, 
"what  then?" 

"What  then?"  he  replied  with  suppressed 
agitation,  "  why  I  would  for  once  put  it  to  the 
test !  It  is  this  very  uncertainty  that  I  fear  it  will 
not  stand  the  test,  which  gnaws  at  my  inward 
soul ;  for  my  love  for  you  is  so  intensely  deep, 
that  if  the  test  should  fail,  why,  then  my  heart 
would  burst." 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRICE.       179 

"  We  will  defer  this  topic  for  another  time," 
Gelfca  though  trembling  with  emotion,  answered 
somewhat  coldly,  at  the  same  time  rising  as  if  to 
quit  his  presence. 

"Oh!  Gelta,"  he  cried  imploringly  catching 
hold  of  her  hands  as  if  to  force  her  to  listen  to 
him,  "Ah !  my  precious  one,  I  want  you  to  be 
near  me,  do  you  not  understand !  always,  always 
near  me,"  he  pleaded  with  impassioned  fervor. 

"  But  what  is  the  use  of  desiring  for  our  friend- 
ship to  continue,"  she  interposed,  "  if  we  quarrel 
all  the  time  ?  " 

"  Oh  !  Gelta,"  he  cried  helplessly,  the  tears 
almost  welling  up  into  his  eyes,  "can  you  not 
realize  that  you  are  the  essence  of  my  yearning 
soul  ?  can  you  not  realize  that  my  love  for  you 
has  grown  so  intensely  deep  that  it  is  beyond  all 
reasoning  power  ?  " 

"  There,  there,  I  must  go  now,"  Gelta  answered 
agitatedly ;  as  at  the  same  time  she  tried  to  re- 
lease herself  from  his  frantic  grasp.  "  It;  is  a 
mortal  sin  for  me  to  listen  to  your  passionate 
outbursts;  and  it  is  cruel,"  she  continued  in  a 
hurried  voice,  "  for  you  to  torture  me  thus,  release 
me,"  she  exclaimed  determinedly.  "I  must  go  !  I 
forbid  you  to  call  on  me  again,  if  you  thus  try 
my  patience,"  she  said  with  firmness,  "  and  I  will 
give  orders  to  that  effect." 

"  Very  well,"  he  replied  hotly,  "  you  have  sealed 
your  fate,"  and  quickly  clasping  her  in  his  arms 
whispered,  "  you  must  be  mine."    Then  he  kissed 


180  gelta:  or, 

her  again  and  again ;  oh  so  passionately,  as  he 
pressed  her  more  tightly  to  his  bosom. 

"  You  are  cruel,"  she  cried  in  piteous  tones  : 
"  let  me  go,  it  is  a  sin  thus  to  embrace  me,  and  I 
detest  you  for  it ! " 

Then  the  hatred  of  being  opposed  over-mastered 
him.  "You  will  be  mine,"  he  whispered.  He 
seemed  to  be  losing  all  self-control ;  scarlet  spots 
appeared  on  his  pale  cheeks  ;  his  grey,  deep-set 
eyes  blazed  with  an  unholy  fire  ;  one  single  feeling 
burned  within  him  :  the  indomitable  wish  to 
possess  her.  The  man  changed  into  the  master; 
his  arms  were  no  longer  human,  for  they  encircled 
her  form  like  bands  of  iron ;  his  eyes  had  a  wild 
glare  in  them ;  her  struggles  to  release  herself 
were  futile — for  across  his  face  there  was  only 
one  look — the  look  of  the  conqueror. 

Like  a  flash  of  lightning  Gelta  realized  her 
helplessness.  "  My  wit  against  his  strength,"  she 
thought ;  and  with  that  she  uttered  half  aloud: 

"Look,  the  princess  has  entered  !"  and  then  in 
a  loud  yoice  she  quickly  said,  "  Good  afternoon, 
princess." 

Taken  by  surprise  he  let  go  his  prey,  and  Gelta 
darted  out  of  the  room  crying  out  "  that  he  must 
never  cross  her  path  again." 


THE  CZAB  AND  THE  CANTATRICE.  181 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

It  was  three  days  before  the  closing  of  the 
Opera  House,  Gelta  had  received  a  number  of  let- 
ters from  the  apparently  repentant  Demetrius,  in 
which  he  implored  her  to  grant  him  one  more  in- 
terview before  her  departure.  But  she  remained 
firm  in  her  determination  not  to  speak  to  him 
again  while  in  Russia,  and  if  possible  never  to 
see  him  again;  for  she  had  awakened  to  the  reali- 
zation that  if  she  pardoned  his  impulsiveness, 
she  in  so  doing,  became  guilty  of  encouraging  a 
love  which  could  never  be  completed;  and  she 
was  too  pure  a  woman,  and  too  good  a  Jewess, 
conscientiously  to  foster  a  love,  which  could  not 
be  sanctified  by  man  or  God ;  and  so  she  remained 
obdurate,  and  refused  both  to  see  him,  or  receive 
any  of  his  letters. 

She  was  now  more  determined  than  ever  in  the 
resolution  which  she  had  formed  to  attend  the 
Starabielsky  ball,  with  the  sole  aim  of  asking  the 
Czar  for  a  private  interview,  at  which  she  inten- 
ded to  plead  in  behalf  of  her  persecuted  race,  so 
that  she  might  feel  satisfied  after  her  departure 
from  Russia,  to  which  she  never  intended  to  re- 
turn, that  at  least  she  had  done  her  mite,  to 
intercede  for  those  left  behind,  whose  lot,  ap- 
peared so  hopeless;  for  she  felt  convinced,  that 
behind  that  harsh  cold,  stony  mask,  which  like 


182  gelta:  or, 

the  Egyptian  Sphinx  covered  the  Czar's  features, 
there  must  somewhere,  in  the  inner  recesses  of 
his  heart,  be  a  good  deal  of  pent-up  humanity. 
Of  course  during  her  stay  she  had  on  several  oc- 
casions met  the  Empress  and  other  female  mem- 
bers of  the  Imperial  family,  but  from  several  of 
their  remarks  expressed  upon  general  topics  they 
had  impressed  Gelta  as  being  extremely  vain; 
shallow  minded  and  selfish;  with  their  eyes  and 
ears  constantly  absorbed  in  attending  to  their 
own  personal  pleasures;  and  the  Empress  to  all 
outward  appearance  was  so  thoroughly  Kussian 
in  her  likes,  and  dislikes,  that  Gelta  viewed  her 
with  compassion,  for  she  instinctively  felt  that 
the  Empress  was  a  good  woman,  perhaps  lacking 
in  depth  of  sympathetic  character,  but  still  a 
good  woman.  However  Gelta  concluded  that  the 
Empress  of  Kussia  was  perhaps  following  the 
dictates  of  the  autocrat,  instead  of  those  of  her 
womanly  heart,  in  appearing  to  be  heart  and  soul 
in  harmony  with  Russian  hates  and  fanaticisms; 
for  not  being  a  Russian  by  birth,  perhaps  she 
considered  it  diplomatic,  to  assume  to  be  more 
so,  by  adoption 

In  civilized  life,  where  the  happiness,  and  in- 
deed almost  the  existence  of  man  depends  so 
much  upon  the  opinion  of  his  fellow  man,  he  is 
constantly  acting  a  studied  part.  The  bold  and 
peculiar  traits  of  native  character  are  refined  away, 
or  softened  down,  by  the  leveling  influence  of 
what  is  termed  good-breeding;  and  he  practices 


THE  OZAB  AND  THE  CANTATRICE.  183 

so  many  petty  deceptions,  and  affects  so  many 
generous  sentiments  for  the  purpose  of  popularity, 
that  it  is  very  difficult  to  distinguish  his  real,  from 
his  artificial  character.  Of  course  Gelta's  con- 
ception of  what  married  life  ought  to  be;  was  that 
the  wife  should  make  it  the  study  of  her  life  to 
have  full  influence  over  her  husband;  in  a  quiet 
subtle  manner  to  develop  fully  all  the  good  and 
human  traits  in  her  husband's  character,  and  be  his 
ministering  angel,  constantly  to  urge  him  to  exer- 
cise the  best  of  his  nature,  by  always  aiming  to  do 
what  is  just,  and  human,  toward  his  fellow  beings. 
When  the  wife  loves  her  husband,  and  recognizes 
that  it  must  be  her  duty,  to  influence  him  for 
good,  and  does  her  utmost  to  accomplish  that 
laudable  task,  then  she  is  really  before  God  and 
man  a  legitimate  wife;  without  this  love  and  self- 
imposed  duty,  she  is  nothing  more,  than  a  con- 
cubine. 

Gelta,  after  having  many  a  time  reflected  over 
the  matter,  concluded,  that  it  was  best  to  go 
straight  to  the  head,  for  a  favor,  without  troub- 
ling any  intermediates,  and  so  she  determined 
upon  pleading  with  the  Czar,  in  propria  persona 
for  the  misunderstood  and  unjustly  persecuted 
House  of  Israel. 


184  gelta:  or, 


CHAPTEE  XXVI. 

It  was  three  days  before  the  Starabielsky  ball, 
Gelta  had  just  called  upon  the  Eabbi  Kantrowitz 
to  offer  what  money  she  could  spare  towards  the 
poor ;  and  also  to  take  a  last  look  of  compassion 
at  the  poor  Jews  in  that  Eussian  Ghetto,  for  she 
did  not  think  that  she  should  have  the  time  to 
call  again  before  her  departure. 

They  were  sitting  in  the  dimly  lit  reception 
room,  the  Eabbi  had  just  finished  giving  Gelta  a 
brief  account  of  how  he  had  disposed  of  her 
contributions  to  those,  whom  he  considered  most 
helpless  ;  and  Gelta  felt  a  moment's  happiness,  as 
she  listened  to  the  many  little  comforts,  bestowed 
on  those,  whose  lot  was  so  dark. 

"Well,  Eabbi,"  she  said,  "before  I  take  my 
leave  I  should  very  much  like  to  know  what  is  your 
candid  opinion  in  regard  to  the  condition  of  the 
Eussian  Jews ;  for  you  know,"  she  continued, "  that 
there  will  be  a  cilmax  some  day,  somewhere." 

"  True  my  child,"  Eabbi  Kantrowitz  replied, 
slowly  shaking  his  patriarchal  head,  while  his 
figure  appeared  more  imposing ;  the  far  away 
look  in  his  eyes  seemed  to  pierce  through  some 
dark  distant  cloud,  where  he  saw  the  bright  light 
of  civilization  crowned  with  religion's  brightest 
gem,  of  love  to  all  beings !  "True  my  child,"  he 
slowly  repeated,  "  there  will  have  to  be  a  climax 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRICE.  185 

somewhere ;  and  that  somewhere,"  he  said  in  a 
low  prophetic  voice,  "  will  be  right  here  in  Rus- 
sia !  And  that  great  climax  for  which  civilization 
is  earnestly  watching  will  be  brought  about  by 
the  efforts  of  the  combined  government  of  all  the 
civilized  nations ;  who  will  recognize  it  as  their 
Divine  duty  to  interfere  in  the  name  of  humanity, 
and  progressive  enlightenment !  The  foreign  gov- 
ernments," he  continued,  "  are  already  beginning 
to  recognize  their  mistake  in  their  dealings  with 
Russia,  for  you  see  the  American  and  English 
governments  have  already  decided  not  to  allow 
any  more  of  the  Russian  emigrants  to  enter  their 
ports  ;  and  quite  right  they  are  too,  in  adopting 
such  strenuous  measures  ;  for  what  is  the  use  of 
allowing  their  respective  countries  to  become 
filled  to  over-flowing  with  these  poor  penniless 
aliens.  The  hospitality  is  a  misdirected  kind- 
ness," continued  the  Rabbi,  growing  eloquent 
with  the  full  knowledge  of  his  subject,  "  for  Rus- 
sia should  be  taught,  to  keep  her  poor  people  at 
home,  and  allow  them  to  live,  in  their  own  mother 
country  in  peace!  It  is  a  cruelty  towards  the 
poor  English,  and  American  working  people,  to 
allow  strangers  to  snatch  the  daily  bread  from 
their  mouths  !  It  is  a  cruelty  towards  the  poor 
Russians,  to  encourage  them  to  come  to  a  strange 
land,  where  not  being  able  to  speak  the  native 
language,  they  are  compelled  to  receive  in  silence 
all  the  rebuffs  and  bitter  prejudice  constantly 
heaped  upon  them  in  their  helpless  position." 


186  gelta:  ob, 

"  Oh,  good  Kabbi,"  said  Gelta  with  tears  glis- 
tening in  her  glorious  eyes,  "  how  I  wish  that  the 
nations  would  join  in  a  crusade  for  the  redemp- 
tion of  the  Jew,  as  they  did  of  old  for  the  redemp- 
tion of  Jerusalem.  That  would  be  far  more  to 
the  glory  of  Christ,  than  were  the  crusades  of  the 
Middle  Ages,  for  it  would  mean,  not  the  rescue 
of  His  sepulchre,  but  of  His  people. 

"  And  now,  good  Eabbi,"  Gelta  resumed  after  a 
moment's  pause,  "I  should  like  to  know  whether 
you  would  care  to  leave  Russia,  if  through  in- 
fluence your  position  could  be  assured,  either  in 
London,  or  in  Paris  !  " 

"No,  my  child,"  he  answered  with  severe 
dignity;  his  patriarchal  face  assuming  a  stern 
reproachful  expression ;  and  then  hesitating  for  a 
moment  and  letting  his  stern  demoanor  relax  at 
her  kindly  meant  offer,  he  continued.  "  My  child, 
a  Rabbi's  duty  is  to  seek  out  and  mingle  with 
those  who  are  most  wretched !  In  the  gay  city 
of  Paris  or  of  London  the  poor  can  do  without 
my  humble  services,  but  here,  in  Russia,  here, 
where  the  Czar  compels  the  children  of  Israel 
to  sit  in  ashes  and  sack-cloth  ;  here,  where  Israel's 
forced  tears  are  the  blood  of  its  heart,  here,  must 
I  abide  at  the  side  of  my  sorely  stricken  people  ; 
until  it  shall  please  God  to  release  my  soul  from 
this  land,  where  man's  inhumanity  to  man,  reigns 
supreme." 

Gelta  felt  awed  with  admiration  at  the  unselfish 
resignation  of  this  noble-hearted  man.     She  im- 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRICE.      187 

pulsively  caught  both  his  hands  and  kissed  them 
with  fervid  devotion  before  he  had  time  to  with- 
draw them,  then  with  tears  in  her  eyes  she  said, 
"  Now,  good  Kabbi,  give  me  your  blessing,  for  I 
fear  I  shall  not  have  time  before  my  departure  to 
call  on  you  again ! 

After  complying  with  her  wish,  he  told  her  that 
he  would  be  sure  to  be  at  the  station  before  her 
train  would  start,  and  that  he  would  then  present 
her  with  a  small  Bible,  which  he  had  had  in  his 
possession  for  over  fifty  years,  and  which  he  felt 
would  be  a  Talisman  of  continued  good  luck  to 
her.     And  so  they  parted. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

Gelta  arose  the  next  morning  fresh  as  a  June 
rose ;  the  thought  that  she  was  so  soon  to  leave 
Eussia  far  behind  her,  with  its  spying,  its  lying,  its 
hates,  its  lusts  made  her  feel  almost  light-hearted. 
After  a  good  breakfast,  the  air  being  so  clear  and 
bracing,  she  decided  to  take  a  long  walk. 

Spring,  so  abrupt  in  its  sudden  appearance ; 
spring,  so  peculiar  on  the  border  of  the  Neva,  so 
unlike  the  real  spring,  had  arrived  during  the 
preceding  night.  Snow-flakes  still  glistened  like 
diamonds  on  the  walls  of  the  houses.  The  icicles 
hanging  from  the  roofs  were  shedding  tears  over 
the  approaching  end  of  the  winter  season. 


188  gelta:  or, 

The  inhabitants  of  Petersburg  had  hurried  out 
into  the  streets  to  enjoy,  and  welcome,  the  first 
rays  of  spring.  The  capital  presented  a  character 
of  liveliness  and  gaiety.  Oh!  what  a  heavenly 
morning  it  was !  All  nature  seemed  to  be  alive, 
and  everybody  was  out — that  is — everybody  who 
was  anybody.  The  birds  warbled  joyfully.  The 
horses'  hoofs  kept  time  to  the  jingling  sounds  of 
their  silver  ornaments.  Gelta  met  many  of  her 
acquaintances  in  the  elegantly  appointed  vehicles, 
but  they  did  not  recognize  her,  because  her  face 
was  closely  veiled. 

She  had  been  walking  for  some  time  towards 
one  of  the  pretty  suburbs,  which  Mrs.  Wilson  had 
taken  her  to  one  day,  months  ago,  when  she  had 
first  arrived.  Even  then,  she  remembered  that 
with  the  dreary  dullness  of  the  beginning  of 
winter  hovering  over  it,  it  was  a  lovely  quiet  spot ; 
and  Gelta  in  order  to  escape  the  crowds  which 
thronged  the  principal  streets,  had  decided  to  see 
this  beautiful  suburb  once  again ;  clothed  in 
nature's  first  spring  gown.  She  had  now  turned 
into  one  of  the  quieter  streets,  and  as  she  felt 
somewhat  overheated  from  her  quick  walking,  she 
took  off  her  veil,  to  enjoy  the  first  spring  breezes 
more  keenly. 

She  had  been  walking  for  some  time,  silently 
thinking  of  those  poor  wretched  beings,  who 
through  some  official's  extortion  and  greed,  lust 
or  hatred,  were  now  immured  alive  in  vile  cells, 
cut  off  from  the  fresh  air  and  sunshine  sent  by 


THE   CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRICE  189 

God ;  and  she  kept  walking  and  thinking,  and 
thinking,  and  walking,  and  her  heart  became  once 
more  sad,  and  as  she  glanced  at  the  fashionable 
dwellings,  she  thought,  of  how  much  pent  up 
misery,  and  crime  even  they  contained,  and  a 
prayer  issued  forth  from  her  heart  to  God,  that 
He  should  look  down  upon  the  innocent  and  per- 
secuted beings,  whom  He  had  formed  after  His 
own  divine  image,  and  come  to  their  rescue. 
Then  she  thought  of  the  Starabielsky  ball,  which 
was  to  take  place  the  day  after  the  morrow,  and 
at  which  it  was  rumored,  the  Czar  would  attend, 
and  she  began  dreaming  of  her  grand  project ;  to 
ask  an  audience  of  His  Majesty.  She  had  by  this 
time  almost  reached  the  suburb,  when  she  was 
interrupted  in  her  reverie  by,  "  Good  morning, 
Mademoiselle  Dechon." 

A  spirited  glossy  bay  with  golden  harness 
flashing  in  the  sunlight,  dashed  up  alongside. 
The  Emperor  had  detached  himself  from  his 
suite. 

"  Good  morning,  your  Majesty,"  answered  Gelta, 
pleasantly  confused,  for  he  had  just  been  upper- 
most in  her  thoughts,  and  now  as  she  looked  up 
to  see  him  there,  in  propria  persona;  she  imagined 
it  was  all  a  dream. 

The  oxygen  in  the  air  on  this  special  morning 
seemed  to  brace  up  everybody  and  put  them  in 
the  best  of  spirits. 

"  It  is  rather  early  for  your  Majesty  to  be  out  " 
Gelta  said  after  the  first  greetings,  by  way  of 


190  gelta:  oe, 

opening  the  conversation,  for  she  felt  that  this  was 
an  occasion  which  fate  had  thrown  in  her  way  to 
ask  for  an  audience. 

"Yes,  the  air  does  me  good,"  he  replied,  and 
then  he  gallantly  resumed,  "  I  think  I  am  very 
fortunate  in  encountering  this  beautiful  Ameri- 
can blossom,  for  you  are  looking  as  sweet  as  a 
rose." 

Gelta  acknowledged  the  compliment,  bowing 
low  with  drooping  eyes  and  blushing  cheeks  ;  and 
then  he  added  with  a  smile. 

"Where  was  our  pretty  nightingale  going  to  at 
such  a  rapid  speed?  To  some  fortunate  lover  I'll 
vow,"  and  then  he  asked  good  naturedly  : 

"  Come,  tell  me ;  who  is  this  lucky  mortal  ?" 

"  I  assure  your  Majesty  that  I  was  not  thinking 
of  any  man,  excepting  your  imperial  self,"  Gelta 
replied,  full  of  embarrassment. 

He  looked  at  her  with  mingled  surprise,  and 
good  humor. 

"  Yes,"  she  falteringly  resumed,  "  I  have  been 
thinking  of  asking  your  Majesty  to  grant  me  a 
private  audience,  before  my  departure  next  week." 

"  Indeed  !"  he  interposed,  then  adding,  "  I  see 
you  are  out  for  a  stroll !" 

"Yes,  your  Majesty,"  Gelta  answered;  then 
after  a  moment's  pause  had  ensued,  he  said : 

"  In  a  very  short  time,"  indicating  with  his 
right  hand  some  distant  object,  "  I  will  join  you 
upon  that  little  bridge  yonder." 

Gelta  murmured  her  thanks.     Then  the  dashing 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE   CANTATRICE.  191 

cavalier,  followed  by  Lis  suite,  flew  along  the  de- 
serted road  and  was  soon  out  of  sight. 

Gelta  stood  transfixed,  gazing  after  him ;  a  sea  of 
thoughts  whirled  through  her  brain.  "  Ah !"  she 
sighed,  "  if  I  could  but  get  him  to  look  kindly 
upon  God's  chosen  people,  yes,"  she  murmured 
half  audibly,  "  if  I  could  but  get  him  to  do  what 
is  right!  If  I  could  but  instill  him  with  the 
courage  to  emancipate  himself  from  the  barbarous 
traditions  of  his  ancestors,  I  would,  O,  God! 
most  willingly  offer  my  life  as  a  sacrifice  this  very 
moment,  that  my  innocent  blood  should  save  the 
children  of  Israel."  Then  with  a  sigh  of  overbur- 
dened suspense  she  turned  into  the  long  lane, 
which  led  towards  the  bridge. 

The  first  few  larks  had  already  made  their  ap- 
pearance, the  little  sparrows  and  bristling  chaf- 
finches were  chirping  and  hopping  along  the  bud- 
ding branches,  the  lane  was  filled  with  the  deli- 
cious perfume  of  the  huge  pine  trees  which  bor- 
dered both  sides  of  the  walk.  A  new  world 
suddenly  began  to  stir,  and  to  move,  in  the  fresh 
verdure  of  the  bushes,  in  the  thickness  of  the 
grass,  in  the  soft,  spring  air,  and  as  Gelta  walked 
along  she  heard  sounds  and  murmurings  every- 
where, as  if  a  new,  mysterious  life  was  waking 
up.  All  nature  seemed  to  be  alive,  a  large, 
yellow  butterfly  darted  forward  and  struck  against 
a  branch  and  made  it  sway,  a  tiny,  little  sparrow 
peeped  from  its  hiding-place  to  see  to  whom  the 
budding  branch  was  bowing,   a  big  blue-bottle 


192  gelta:  or, 

was  dancing  a  waltz  in  the  sunshine,  two  tiny 
sparrows  on  an  upper  branch  were  nestling  closer 
to  each  other,  as  they  watched  the  poetical  move- 
ments of  a  couple  of  loving  chaffinches  on  a 
neighboring  tree. 

Gelta,  with  a  far-away  look  in  her  eyes,  lightly 
walked  to  the  accompaniment  of  Nature's  music, 
at  last  she  paused.  It  was  the  spot  which  the 
Czar  had  indicated.  The  little  bridge  spanned  a 
silver  stream,  fringed  along  the  shore  with  weep- 
ing willows.  Just  beyond,  at  the  back,  loomed 
up  majestically  immense  and  lordly  elms.  "I 
must  have  a  drink  of  that  water  "  Gelta  said,  as 
she  leaned  against  the  side  of  the  bridge,  mirrow- 
ing  herself  in  the  silver  stream ;  and  suiting  the 
action  to  the  word,  she  ran  down  the  embank- 
ment, dipping  her  beautiful  small  white  hands 
into  the  crystal  brook.  She  drank  several  times 
of  Nature's  most  refreshing  beverage ;  then 
she  stretched  herself  upon  the  soft,  fresh  grass, 
and  surveyed  the  magnificence  of  Dame  Na- 
ture. 

"  I  declare,"  she  mentally  said,  "  to  people  in- 
clined to  be  romantic,  this  spot,  is  a  perfect  sylvan 
retreat!"  And  the  very  next  moment  she  re- 
proached herself  for  the  trivial  thought  which 
had  just  flashed  through  her  mind.  "No,"  she 
murmured  almost  aloud,  "  it  is  selfish,  and  wrong, 
to  think  of  happiness  when  so  many  of  our 
innocent  fellow-beings  are  buried  alive  in  prison 
cells." 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRICE.  193 

After  lingering  half  an  hour  she  rose  and  turned 
to  see  whether  she  could  discover  the  tall  ma- 
jestic figure  of  the  Czar,  amid  the  many  elm  trees ; 
when  directly  in  her  pathway,  not  ten  rods  away 
from  her,  with  his  arms  folded  across  his  chest, 
stood  the  Czar,  as  if  contemplating  the  American 
nymph,  basking  in  the  Russian  sunshine  on  this 
most  glorious  morning. 

Gelta,  when  she  suddenly  saw  the  Czar,  did  not 
start  with  surprise,  nor  hesitate,  but  walked 
directly  forward ;  and  as  she  approached  with  a 
low  bow,  and  pleased  but  confused  expression 
said: 

"I  am  very  glad  to  have  the  honor  of  meeting 
your  Majesty  for  the  second  time  this  morning." 

He  extended  his  hand,  which  she  cordially  be- 
gan shaking  in  good  old  American  style.  Then, 
suddenly  remembering  that  she  was  there  to 
plead  for  her  people,  and  that  she  might  anger 
him  by  her  American  equality,  she  bent  down  and 
reverently  imprinted  a  kiss  on  his  extended  hand. 

A  perceptible  smile  passed  over  the  hard 
sphynx-like  features  of  the  Czar,  which  for  the 
moment  almost  rendered  them  effeminate  in  their 
sweetness  of  expression  as  he  said: 

"I  thought  I  should  prefer  a  stroll  in  the  coun- 
try this  lovely  spring  morning  to  riding,"  and 
then  he  gallantly  added,  "the  pleasure  is  doubled 
by  your  enchanting  presence  here." 

Gelta  glanced  up  with  maidenly  modesty  as 
she  answered ; 


194  gelta:  ok, 

"I  sincerely  hope  that  your  Majesty  will  still 
think  my  presence  here  enchanting,  after  I  shall 
have  explained  the  object  of  my  interview." 

He  gazed  at  her  in  silence  with  a  deep  penetra- 
ting look  of  enquiry,  as  if  he  would  read  her  very 
soul,  so  that  Gelta  actually  felt  embarrassed;  and 
there  they  stood  facing  each  other  for  fully  a  mo- 
ment without  uttering  a  word. 

"  O  God ! "  she  silently  prayed,  "  help  me  to  ac- 
complish the  great  task  that  I  have  set  myself  to 
do ;  so  that  my  misunderstood  people,  the  whole 
race  of  Israel,  shall  be  able  once  more  to  regain 
their  right  and  high  standing  before  the  civilized 
world,  which  is  their  just  due  by  heritage  and 
religious  birth.  O  God !  help  me  to  lift  the  veil 
of  error  from  this  misguided  monarch's  eyes,  as 
did  our  good  Queen  Esther,  hundreds  of  years 
ago,  when  she  so  successfully  pleaded  for  Israel's 
rights  before  Ahasuerus." 

As  the  Czar  silently  contemplated  Gelta  in  her 
tight-fitting  Parisian  jacket,  displaying  to  perfec- 
tion, her  superbly  moulded  figure,  which  he  knew 
was  perfect  from  his  sight  of  her  in  the  different 
roles  which  she  had  played,  he  mused,  "  This  is  a 
specimen  of  superb  womanhood,  of  which  any 
country  may  well  feel  proud,"  and  with  a  sweet 
smile,  and  using  a  much  softer  tone  than  Gelta 
thought  him  capable  of,  he  said  : 

"What  is  it,  Mademoiselle,  that  you  wish  to 
ask  me?" 

Gelta  glanced   up  into  the   Czar's   eyes   and 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRICE.  195 

through  her  embarrassment  managed  to  stammer 
out, 

"  0,  Sire,  I  come  to  plead  to  you  on  behalf  of 
my  poor  and  unjustly  persecuted,  and  misunder- 
stood people,  that  your  Majesty  through  his 
human  heart,  would  treat  them  with  a  more 
Christian  leniency,  as  an  example  to  the  coarse 
brutal  officers,  who  extort  from  them,  their  little 
money,  and  deprive  them  daily  of  the  very 
necessaries  of  life,  and  who,  when  they  find  the 
least  opposition  to  their  rapacious  greed,  not 
only  demand  more  money,  but  torture  them,  and 
cast  them  into  some  vile  prison,  '  in  the  name  of 
the  Czar'." 

During  the  delivery  of  this  speech  the  Em- 
peror's face  underwent  a  sudden  change.  The 
sweet  smile  vanished,  and  in  its  place  a  harsh 
forbidding  expression  covered  it  like  a  mask.  It 
was  the  cold  stony  look  of  the  passionless  Sphinx. 

As  Gelta  saw  the  Czar's  face  change,  her  heart 
sank  within  her,  and  hope  for  mercy  from  him 
died  away. 

"What  religion,"  he  slowly  asked  eyeing  her 
intently,  "  do  you  belong  to  ?  " 

A  fresh  accession  of  strength  and  resolution 
came  to  her  as  she  proudly  answered, 

"  I  belong  to  the  longest  lived  and  most  human 
of  all  religions,  one  of  the  most  ancient  of  houses, 
which  numbers  among  its  descendants,  such 
noble  men  as  Abraham,  Moses,  Christ,  and  others, 
whom  God  saw  fit  to  make  His  Divine  servants, 


196  gelta:  or, 

for  I  am  a  proud  daughter  of  Israel,"  and  as  he 
stood  eyeing  her  without  speaking,  she  continued : 

"O  greatness,  O  Emperor  of  all  the  Russias — 
if  you  would  lay  aside  petty  hates  and  govern 
your  people  with  the  kindness  of  your  heart,  how 
much  greater  as  an  Emperor,  and  as  a  man,  you 
would  be  before  God,  and  the  world." 

She  had  grown  eloquent,  and  looked  beautiful 
in  her  passionate  pleadings ;  but  he,  who  stood  be- 
fore her,  dressed  in  brief  authority,  was  a  fanatic. 

She  stood  almost  breathless,  hanging  expectant- 
ly on  what  he  would  answer ;  her  dark  glowing 
eyes  filled  with  a  yearning  for  pity  from  him  to- 
wards Israeli  unjustly  persecuted  children. 

The  Czar  stared  at  her  for  some  moments;  then 
with  a  sneer  he  asked : "  Isthat  allyou  have  to  say?" 

"Oh,  no,"  she  replied,  "great  Czar,  I  appeal  to 
you  in  the  name  of  the  All  merciful  God,  to  show 
the  kind  and  benevolent  side  of  your  nature  toward 
Israel,  so  that  the  officers  of  your  kingdom  may 
follow  your  Highness'  just  and  humane  example." 

"Woman  I"  he  began  with  icy  tones,  "you  are 
either  mad,  or  a  fool,  to  plead  to  me  for  those 
whose  very  name  I  abominate!" 

"O  Lord  of  Hosts!"  Gelta  silently  murmured, 
overcome  with  agitation. 

"So!"  he  inquired  derisively,  "you  are  a  Jew?" 

"A  Jew,  yes!"  she  haughtily  replied.  "For  'tis 
the  Jew's  strength  that  in  his  essence  he  alone 
among  men  is  changeless.  Empires  crumble  into 
ruin,  and  the  Jew  survives  them  all.  Civiliza- 
tions flourish,  and  are  dissipated  like  dust  on  the 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRICE.  197 

wind ;  and  the  Jew  puts  them  on  as  a  garment,  to 
shed  them  when  they  are  outworn,  and  to  show  as 
little  trace  of  passage  through  them  as  a  man 
shows  of  his  last  year's  doublet  and  hose.  To  the 
world,  the  Jew  has  ever  stood  for  the  Genius  of 
Profit;  to  himself  he  has  ever  been  an  incarnation 
of  Destiny  and  Law.  In  point  of  fact,  the  Jew  is 
both;  and  his  divine  intuition  of  himself  enables 
him  to  endure  the  hatred  of  the  ignorant  of  to-day 
with  the  same  inarrogant  yet  absolute  patience 
which  he  showed  in  medieval  times.  For  it  is 
the  will  of  God  that  the  history  of  the  world  shall 
flow  pure  and  distinct  through  Israel." 

"And  so  you  have  acknowledged  yourself  a 
Jewess?" 

"Acknowledged!  it  is  the  only  thing  I  feel 
proud  of,"  she  answered  with  dignity. 

■* — And  as  you  have  acknowledged  the  fact,"  he 
continued,  not  taking  note  of  her  interruption, 
"I  would  advise  you  to  leave  Russia  as  soon  as 
it  is  convenient." 

"  One  word,"  she  said  with  superb  dignity  as  lie 
was  about  to  go,  "your  Majesty  anticipates  my 
wishes,  in  two  days  I  leave  these  dominions,  but 
I  had  indulged  in  the  hope,  of  not  taking  my  de- 
parture, until  I  had  pleaded  for  Israel's  rights  to 
the  Czar  of  all  the  Russias,  and  thereby,  touched 
some  tender  cord  in  that  heart  of  steel,  but  it  is 
evident  that  mercy  is  not  in  your  Majesty,  and  I 
only  pity  you  for  professing  religion  with  youv 
tongue,  while  in  your  heart  you  nurture  hate,  but 
in  heaven's  good  time  the  wrong  shall  be  righted, 


198  GELTA  :  OR, 

and  mayhap  your  eyes  will  then  be  opened,  to 
your  great  errors.  I  will  bid  your  Majesty  good 
morning,"  she  said  with  queenly  composure,  and 
started  towards  the  city. 

"I  believe,"  mused  the  Czar  as  he  watched  her 
lithe  form  disappear  among  the  trees,  "I  believe 
that  she  has  more  fire  in  her  than  any  other  wo- 
man that  I  have  ever  met.  What  a  pity,"  he 
mused,  as  he  wended  his  way  back  to  the  palace, 
"that  she  is  a  Jewess,  and  endowed  with  that  in- 
dominable  racial  pride,  which  no  amount  of  tor- 
„  turing  can  eradicate.  How  she  did  plead  for  the 
Jews !  But  there,  I  cannot  allow  so  trivial  a  mat- 
ter to  engross  my  thoughts,"  and  with  this  con- 
clusion he  dismissed  from  his  mind,  the  plead- 
ings for  justice,  which  Israel's  noble  daughter  had 
attempted. 


CHAPTEK  XXVIII. 

It  was  the  morning  of  the  evening  that  Princess 
Zenaide  Stepanora  Starabielsky's  ball  was  to  take 
place  and  St.  Petersburg's  elite  were  greatly  ex- 
cited with  pleasurable  anticipation. 

Mothers  who  had  gone  to  enormous  expense  to 
bedeck  in  fineries  their  ugly  daughters,  that  they 
should  appear  more  pleasing  in  the  exciting  exer- 
cise of  angling  for  some  rich  old  man  for  a  hus- 
band; married  women  and  passees  widows,  who 
had  made  up  their  minds  to  captivate  some  new 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRICE.      199 

gallant;  Don  Juan's  who  expected  to  ensnare 
some  of  the  budding  fair  ones  ;  and  the  old  folks 
who  delighted  in  discovering  new  scandals,  and 
vivisecting  them  to  their  heart's  content;  were 
each,  and  all,  eager,  for  the  eventful  evening  to 
arrive. 

Demetrius  had  not  had  an  opportunity  of 
speaking  to  Gelta  for  over  a  week ;  ever  since  she 
indignantly  requested  him  never  to  cross  her  path 
again ;  and  his  many  letters  to  her  had  been  re- 
turned unopened.  He  was  not  allowed  to  visit 
her,  and  in  fact,  Gelta  had  in  every  way  shunned 
him,  which  left  no  doubt  as  to  her  final  determi- 
nation, never  to  speak  to  him  again.  Therefore 
with  the  Russian  hatred  of  being  opposed, 
Demetrius  had  mentally  vowed  two  days  before 
the  ball,  that  Gelta  should  not  escape  him. 

It  was  an  awful  determination ;  but  Demetrius 
was  resolute  in  the  project  he  had  suddenly 
formed.  He  knew  that  Gelta  was  to  attend  the 
Starabielsky  ball,  chaperoned  by  the  Dowager 
Duchess  Olga  Dolgorouki;  so  he  took  into  his 
confidence  the  Dowager's  young  nephew  Yolodia 
Yaroslof,  who  was  to  escort  them  to  and  from 
their  carriage. 

In  Yalagen,  one  of  the  numerous  islands  in  the 
vicinity  of  St.  Petersburg,  Demetrius  owned  a 
pretty  little  country  house  built  like  a  Turkish 
Kiosk,  its  interior  fantastically  frescoed  and 
decorated,  with  Goddesses  and  water  nymphs. 

Here  at  times  he  was  in  the  habit  of  stealing 


200  gelta:  or, 

away  from  the  constant  buzz  of  Court  life,  to 
enjoy  a  quiet  week  in  his  little  hermitage,  attended 
only  by  his  valet,  and  a  man  cook. 

It  was  in  this  little  nest  that  Demetrius'  project 
was  to  be  consummated.  He  had  arranged  with 
young  Yaroslof  that,  at  the  end  of  the  evening 
when  the  guests  were  departing,  Yoladia  Yaroslof 
should  escort  Gelta  back  alone  to  his  aunt's  car- 
riage, and  then  place  her  in  another,  which  would 
be  in  readiness,  while  he  left  her  to  fetch  his 
aunt.  Gelta,  having  entered  the  carriage,  was 
immediately  to  be  dazed  by  the  inhalation  of 
some  powerful  anesthetic  ;  and  in  this  comatose 
state  transported  to  the  Turkish  Temple,  on  the 
island  of  Yalagen ;  where  a  priest  was  in  readi- 
ness; and  Gelta  was  the  next  morning  to  wake 
up  as  the  wife  of  the  Grand  Duke  Demetrius. 

"With  this  little  plot  in  perspective,  Demetrius 
did  not  force  his  person  into  Gelta's  presence, 
but,  on  the  contrary  had  apparently  shown  an 
unwonted  submission,  to  her  expressed  wish,  and 
Gelta  felt  relieved,  and  grateful  to  him,  for  his 
considerate  conduct  in  remaining  away. 

A  few  days  before  Gelta  had  so  unexpectedly 
met  the  Czar,  an  interview  that  had  terminated  in 
such  disappointment  to  Gelta — for  she  had 
nourished  the  hope  that  the  Emperor  was  an 
intelligent,  and  liberal  minded  man,  and  now  she 
had  found  him  only  a  bigoted  fanatic.  It  was  a 
few  days  prior  to  this  disheartening  conviction, 
that  Mrs.  Wilson  in  one  of  her  visits,  was  allowed 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATKICE.  201 

with  feminine  curiosity  to  see  the  beautiful 
toilette  that  Gelta  intended  to  wear  at  the 
Starabielsky  ball. 

The  English  lady  went  into  ecstascy  over  the 
exquisite  French  creation ;  and  accordingly  on 
her  return  home,  wrote  to  her  confidant  Count 
Boroffsky  in  the  most  enthusiastic  manner,  con- 
cerning the  long  expected  ball,  and  also  described 
the  exquisite  beauty  of  the  dress,  which  Gelta 
was  to  wear. 

After  Gelta  reached  her  hotel  the  morning  she 
had  attempted  to  plead  with  the  Czar  for  her  per- 
secuted people,  she  threw  herself  on  the  couch 
and  indulged  in  a  hearty  cry,  as  if  to  mourn  an- 
other lost  hope.  Then  after  awhile  she  rose, 
calm  and  determined  to  leave  Kussia  as  quickly 
as  she  conveniently  could.  She  was  about  to 
write  a  note  to  the  Princess  Starabielsky,  inform- 
ing her  that  she  would  not  attend  the  ball,  but 
pondered,  not  knowing  what  excuse  she  could 
offer,  to  decline  the  Duchess  Dolgorouki's  chape- 
ronage,  and  after  some  mental  debate  she  finally 
concluded,  not  to  refuse  by  writing,  but  to  feign 
a  sudden  illness,  at  the  very  last  moment,  as  a 
plausible  excuse  for  not  attending. 

One  bright  morning  on  the  3rd  of  April,  in  his 
pretty  pavillion  situated  near  the  Champs  Elysee, 
Count  Boroffsky,  with  an  open  letter  in  his  hand 
was  frantically  pacing  up  and  down  his  study.  It 
was  Mrs.  Wilson's  last  letter  from  which  for  the 
first  time  he  heard  of  Gelta's  intention  of  goingj 


gelta:  or, 

to  the  Starabielsky  ball.  Of  course  he  had  been 
so  constantly  occupied  of  late  with  the  great 
blow  that  was  so  soon  to  annihilate  the  Imperial 
family ;  that  certain  little  outside  details  escaped 
his  attention,  but  now,  with  that  letter,  giving 
him  a  full  account  of  the  dress  that  Gelta  was  to 
wear,  she!  the  only  woman  who  had  entered  his 
bachelor  heart ;  now,  when  he  realized  the  danger 
she  was  about  to  encounter,  he  felt  as  if  he  could 
dash  his  head  against  the  wall  in  order  to  rescue 
her  from  her  peril. 

"  Something  must  be  done,"  he  murmured  agi- 
tatedly after  the  first  few  moments  of  confusion 
had  elapsed;  and  then  he  stopped  short  in  the 
middle  of  the  room,  as  he  mentally  decided  to 
save  her,  even  at  the  cost  of  their  secret ;  "  for 
after  all,"  he  mused,  "she  is  a  Jewess;  her  sym- 
pathies are  with  the  oppressed  —  and  not  with 
the  accursed  oppressor.  Therefore  she  will  not 
betray  us ; "  and  then  he  mentally  continued,  a 
pleased  smile  suffusing  his  countenance,  "  it  will 
only  be  another  proof,  to  her,  of  my  eternal  love 
and  devotion,  and  who  knows,  perhaps  on  her 
return  she  will  reward  my  constancy." 

Boroffsky  immediately  went  out  and  dispatched 
several  cypher  telegrams  to  Father  Paulus,  a  well 
known  and  highly  respected  priest  in  St.  Peters- 
burg and  one  of  Boroffsky's  chief  conspirators. 

A.bout  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  on  the  day 
of  the  great  ball,  a  priest,  Father  Paulus,  asked 
to  see  Mademoiselle  Dechon.     Gelta  gave  orders 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRICE.  203 

to  admit  the  priest,  and  when  he  was  announced 
she  came  into  the  drawing  room  to  receive  him. 

"  To  what,  good  Father,  do  I  owe  the  honor  of 
your  visit  ?  "  she  asked  with  a  gracious  smile, 
while  she  mentally  concluded  that  he  had  come 
to  ask  for  a  sum  of  money  towards  some  charitable 
purpose. 

Father  Paulus  glanced  about  the  room  in  a 
most  mysterious  manner,  as  if  to  make  sure  that 
they  were  quite  alone,  and  wanting  to  feel  doubly 
positive  upon  that  matter  he  said,  that  he  had  a 
most  important  message  to  deliver  to  herself  in 
private. 

Gelta  eyed  her  visitor  for  a  moment  in  silence, 
for  it  suddenly  occurred  to  her  that  this  good 
man  had  come  to  intercede  with  her  on  Demetrius' 
behalf.  After  a  moment  of  mutual  observation, 
Gelta  invited  the  priest  to  be  seated,  meantime 
assuring  him  that  they  were  alone,  and  that  he 
ran  no  risk  of  being  overheard.  Father  Paulus, 
after  having  moved  his  chair  closer  to  hers,  bent 
his  head  towards  her  ear,  and  in  a  low  whisper 
said, 

"I  want  your  solemn  word  of  honor  that  you 
will  not  mention  to  a  living  being,  that,  which 
I  am  about  to  tell  you." 

Gelta  simply  replied,  "  Good  Father,  you  may 
trust  me." 

The  priest  bowed  as  if  perfectly  satisfied  with 
her  answer,  and  then  without  more  ado  and  i  i  a 
low  voice  he  abruptly  asked, 


204  gelta:  or, 

"  Are  you  going  to  attend  the  Starabielsky  ball 
to-night  ?" 

This  sudden  and  unexpected  question  greatly 
surprised  Gelta,  for  it  almost  as  suddenly  dawned 
upon  her  that  this  priest  had  been  sent  by  the 
Czar  himself,  to  request  her  not  to  attend  the 
ball,  she  thought  it  prudent  not  to  commit 
herself,  until  she  had  thoroughly  sifted  the  object 
of  this  extraordinary  question;  so  she  simply 
replied,  inquiringl) 

"Why?" 

"Why,"  he  repeated,  "because  I  have  been 
sent  by  a  mutual  friend  to  warn  you,  as  you  value 
your  life,  not  to  go  to  the  ball  to-night." 

"And  who  is  this  extraordinary  friend,  who 
takes  such  a  deep  interest  in  my  life?"  she 
asked. 

"I  am  not  at  liberty  to  divulge  his  name," 
Father  Paulus  replied. 

"Very  well,"  Gelta  answered,  with  quick 
decision,  rising  at  the  same  time  to  show  her 
visitor  that  the  conversation  need  not  continue, 
"  Very  well,"  she  repeated  with  severe  dignity, 
"  I  am  not  to  be  intimidated  by  such  a  mysterious 
message,  and  unless  you  can  give  me  the  sender's 
name  and  reasons,  I  will  most  certainly  be  at  the 
Starabielsky  ball  to-night." 

Father  Paulus,  after  a  moment's  silent  deliber- 
ation, looked  at  his  watch,  and  then  remarked, 

"It  is  now  3  o'clock;  it  will  be  a  good  four 
hours  before  I  can  consult,  and  receive  permis- 


THE   CZAR  AND  THE   CANTATRICE.  205 

sion,   to  give  you  the  name  of  the  friend,  who 
values  your  life  so  much." 

"Very  well,"  Gelta  replied,  "the  ball  begins  at 
10  o'clock,  if  before  8  o'clock  this  evening  you  do 
not  bring  me  the  required  information,  I  will 
most  certainly  attend  the  ball  to-night." 
.  "About  eight  o'clock  this  evening  I  will  be 
here,"  Father  Paulus  replied,  and  at  once  took 
his  leave. 

Gelta  stood  motionless  for  some  time  in  the 
middle  of  the  room  after  the  priest  had  gone,  as 
if  she  had  been  petrified  to  the  spot.  Her  brain 
was  in  a  whirl  of  excitement.  Of  course  for  the 
last  three  days  ever  since  her  interview  with  the 
Czar,  she  had  determined  not  to  go  to  the  ball, 
and  now,  she  was  more  determined  than  ever  not 
to  go. 

"But,"  she  mused,  "what  if  I  did  go  to  the  ball, 
how  comes  it  that  my  life  should  be  endangered? 
Thank  God,  I  am  an  American,  and  the  Eussian 
Emperor  would  not  dare,  to  imprison  me,  an  Am- 
erican subject  without  cause."  And  then  an  in* 
ward  voice  answered  her,  that  Kussia's  fanatic 
ruler,  would  dare  anything. 

It  was  five  o'clock  when  Count  Boroffsky  re- 
ceived Father  Paulus'  cypher  telegram,  which  ran 
thus :  "Determined  to  attend  unless  she  knows  name 
and  reasons.11 

After  a  half  hour's  mental  torture,  Count  Bor- 
offsky  wired  back,  "  tell  her  all,  she  must  not  go." 

It  was  a  few  minutes  past  nine  o'clock  when 


206 

Father  Paulus  entered  Gelta's  drawing  room  to 
entrust  her  with  their  secret  plan. 

Meanwhile,  in  the  Starabielsky  Palace  another 
scene  was  being  enacted.  As  pre-arranged  with 
her  lover  Vladimir  Koretyki  the  Princess  de  So- 
coloff dressed  in  her  sister-in-law's  house,  so  as 
to  help  the  Princess  Starabielsky  to  superintend 
the  final  little  details. 

Andrei  Petrovitch  a  faithful  follower  of  the 
Nihilists,  whom  the  Princess  de  Socoloff  had  per- 
suaded her  husband  several  months  before  to  en- 
gage as  assistant  butler,  so  that  she  might  be  in 
nearer  contact  with  the  Nihilist's  conspirator, 
was  with  the  other  servants  of  the  Socoloff  house- 
hold to  assist  in  waiting  on  the  Starabielsky 
guests. 

It  was  nine  o'clock  when  Andrei  Petrovitch 
entered  his  mistress'  dressing-room,  and  after 
waiting  while  his  mistress  dismissed  her  maid, 
he  assured  the  Princess  de  Socoloff  that  he  had 
just  placed  the  little  green  tin  box  containing  the 
fatal  clock  in  the  pot  containing  the  creeping 
plant,  which  clustered  around  the  bottom  of  the 
Corinthian  column,  and  which  formed  the  back- 
ground of  the  dais  that  had  been  improvised  as 
the  Eoyal  Throne. 

"You  are  positive,"  the  Princess  asked  with 
suppressed  nervousness,  "  that  it  is  set  for  half- 
past  twelve?  for  you  know  the  Czar  is  due  at 
half-past  eleven  o'clock ;  but  as  a  Court  secret  it 
is  known  that  he  always  arrives  late ;  so  that  he 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRICE.  207 

most  probably  will  appear  here  at  about  twelve 
o'clock,  which  would  be  ample  time ;  but  you  are 
quite  sure?"  the  Princess  repeated,  "that  it  is  set 
for  half-past  twelve  ?  ' 

"  Quite  sure,  your  Highness,"  answered  Petro- 
vitch. 

"And  you  hid  the  box  well  beneath  the  creep- 
ing plant  ?  "  asked  the  Princess  with  suppressed 
agitation. 

"  You  need  have  no  fear  on  that  account,  for 
you  well  know  while  arranging  the  different 
plants  this  afternoon  I  transposed  most  of  the 
earth  into  another  box;  besides,  it  is  placed  so 
perfectly  in  full  view  of  everybody,  that  no  one 
will  ever  think,  of  associating  the  least  suspicion 
with  its  contents." 

"  Tour  sister  is  to  call  for  me  here  at  a  quarter 
past  eleven  ?  " 

"  Yes,  your  Highness,"  answered  Andrei  with  a 
suppressed  grin. 

"Very  well,  I  will  myself  presently  descend 
into  the  ball  room,  so  as  to  assure  myself  that 
everything  is  in  order,  for  you  know,"  she  said  al- 
most hoarsely,  "this  time  there  must  be  no  failure, 
you  understand?" 

He  nodded  assent  and  then  with  a  gesture  she 
dismisssed  him. 

It  had  been  arranged  that  Josha,  Andrei's  sister 
should  call  for  the  Princess  de  Socoloff  with  the 
news  that  the  Princess'  only  child,  a  little  girl 
of  about  four  years  old,  was  suddenly  seized  with 


208  gelta:  ob, 

convulsions,  and  was  on  the  verge  of  death.  This 
subterfuge  was  to  enable  the  Princess  to  leave 
the  Starabielsky  Palace,  dressed  in  her  elegant 
ball  toilette,  just  as  she  was  about  to  mingle  with 
the  guests,  without  exciting  the  least  suspicion. 

Of  course  it  was  only  the  life  of  the  Czar  and 
his  family  that  was  aimed  at,  and  as  the  blow 
was  to  be  struck  in  her  brother's  house,  without 
he,  or  his  family,  having  the  least  suspicion,  of 
the  deeply,  and  daring  conspirators'  plans,  the 
Princess  stipulated  that  as  few  lives  as  possible 
should  be  sacrificed,  and  that  only  one  clock 
need  be  secreted  in  the  Palace,  and  that  should 
be  placed  as  nearly  as  possible  to  the  improvised 
throne. 

It  was  a  few  minutes  before  ten  o'clock  when 
the  Princess  Starabielsky  entered  the  ball  room 
with  her  sister-in-law,  in  order  to  take  a  final 
look,  at  its  magnificent  ensemble  before  the  ar- 
rival of  the  first  guests. 

Both  the  ladies  as  they  entered  the  spacious 
room,  gave  an  exclamation  of  surprised  delight, 
when  they  saw  the  many  brilliantly  lit  chande- 
liers reflected  in  the  waxed  and  highly  polished 
floor ;  the  flood  of  light  blended  beautifully  with 
the  rich  tones  of  the  gorgeous  tapestries,  and 
velvet  hangings,  which  ornamented  the  walls,  and 
between  which  were  a  number  of  mirrors  of  pro- 
digious size  ;  masterpieces  of  Russian  art,  statues 
from  Rome,  and  Florence,  embellished  by  huge 
palms,  were  placed  in  the  corners  of  the  room. 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRICE.  209 

and  surrounded  by  a  parterre  of  shrubs  and  green 
plants,  planted  in  pots  and  boxes. 

The  dais  on  which  stood  the  improvised  throne, 
was  covered  with  a  rich  Aubusson  carpet;  the 
Corinthian  column,  a  few  feet  distant,  was  to  the 
right  of  the  Imperial  Chair. 

The  Princess  Starabielsky  with  her  sister-in- 
law  standing  by  her  side,  had  just  finished  re- 
arranging some  of  the  drapery,  which  formed  the 
back  ground  of  the  dais,  when  her  eye  was  at- 
tracted to  the  creeping  plant  at  the  base  of  the 
column,  some  of  whose  stems  were  drooping  and 
looked  as  if  they  needed  support.  The  Princess 
Starabielsky  moved  towards  the  plant,  and  bent 
down  to  remedy  the  defect,  the  Princess  de  Soco- 
loff  but  a  few  paces  away  turned  ghastly  pale,  as 
she  watched  her  sister-in-law  bend  over  the  fatal 
box.  Like  lightning  it  flashed  through  her  mind 
that  she  must  divert  the  Princess  Starabielsky's 
attention,  or  she  would  discover  all,  and  their 
plans  would  after  all  be  defeated;  so  mastering 
her  fearful  agitation  she  exclaimed : 

"Look !  "Vera!  that  face  peeping  in  at  the  other 
end!" 

"  What  face  ?  "  asked  her  sister-in-law,  looking 
up. 

"  I  don't  know  whose  face  it  is,"  answered  the 
Princess  de  Socoloff,  "  only  it  had  such  a  myster- 
ious way  of  popping  in  its  head  several  times,  and 
then  disappearing." 

And  the  Princess  Starabielsky,  noticing  the 


210  GELTA  :  OB, 

suppressed  nervousness  of  the  speaker's  face,  rose 
and  went  towards  the  door  to  see  who  the  intruder 
was,  having  asked  her  sister-in-law  meanwhile  to 
finish  arranging  the  plant ;  which  request  was  at 
once  complied  with.  In  doing  so,  the  Princess 
de  Socoloff  immediately  discovered  that  the  clock 
was  well  hidden  beneath  the  earth  in  the  pot,  and 
she  felt  relieved  on  that  point. 

The  Princess  Starabielsky  returned,  saying  that 
there  was  no  one,  who  had  been  seen,  thrusting 
his  head  in,  and  laughingly  rallied  her  sister-in- 
law  about  her  ghost  stories,  and  after  having 
admiringly  approved  of  the  pretty  effect  of  the 
creeping  plant  wound  about  the  column,  both 
ladies  left  the  ball  room,  only  to  return  shortly 
afterwards  to  welcome  the  guests. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

It  was  a  few  minutes  past  nine  o'clock  when 
Father  Paulus  entered  Gelta's  drawing  room. 

For  two  long  hours  she  had  nervously  paced  up 
and  down  her  room,  expecting  him  at  every 
moment,  and  now  he  had  at  last  come.  After 
apologizing  for  his  tardy  arrival  caused  by  his 
not  receiving  the  Count's  telegram  sooner.  Father 
Paulus  after  having  first  exacted  once  more  her 
promise  that  she  would  never  mention  to  any 
living  being,  what  he  was  about  to  tell  her,  he  re- 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRICE.  211 

vealed  in  its  minutest  details,  the  plot  by  which 
the  Czar  and  his  family  were  expected  to  enter  so 
soon  into  eternity. 

Gelta  on  hearing  this  fearful  confession  con- 
cerning the  imminent  assassination,  staggered,  and 
almost  fell  fainting  to  the  ground,  but  Father 
Paulus  caught  her  in  his  arms  and  seeing  how  she 
had  almost  shrank  horrified  from  him,  with  an 
imprecation  whispered  the  word : 

"Traitress!" 

"Oh    no,    Father,    not    that,"    she   answered 
agitatedly  as  the  hateful  epithet  was  thrust  at  heir 
and  making  a  superhuman  effort  to  compose  her 
unstrung  nerves,  she  continued  : 

"No  good  Father,  not  a  traitress,  for  as  a 
Jewess,  and  a  dear  friend  of  Count  Boroffsky,  1 
am  naturally  overwhelmed  and  doubly  rejoice  at 
this  good  news,  for  I  can  now  fully  realize,"  she 
continued  emphasizing  each  word,  "  how  deeply 
the  Count  is  devoted  to  me.  Go  now,  I  need  some 
rest,  leave  me  good  Father,"  she  pleaded  as  she 
caught  sight  of  the  clock  on  the  etagere  whose 
hands  indicated  half  past  ten,  for  she  was  in  an 
agony  of  mind,  lest  the  Duchess  should  arrive  at 
any  moment,  and  finding  her  agitated  and  not 
dressed  for  the  ball,  would  suspect  that  something 
unusual  had  occurred;  so  after  making  her  repeat 
the  promise  she  had  given  him  that  it  was  to  be 
a  dead  secret,  Father  Paulus  took  his  departure. 

He  had  been  leisurely  walking  for  some  ten 
minutes  towards  the  Isaac  church,  when  he  re- 


212  gelta:  or, 

cognized  a  gorgeous  equipage  dash  by  with  the 
elegant  liveries  of  the  Duchess  Dolgorouki  wend- 
ing their  way  towards  the  Hotel  de  1'Europe. 

"  They  are  going  to  fetch  Mademoiselle  Dechon," 
he  murmured,  with  gnashing  teeth,  "and  she 
promised  me  that  she  would  not  go.  I  will  see," 
he  mentally  said,  at  the  same  time  retracing  his 
footsteps,  "  whether  she  will  keep  her  word." 

Gelta,  as  soon  as  Father  Paulus  left  her,  stood 
transfixed,  with  her  head  resting  between  her  up- 
lifted hands. 

"  Something  must  be  done  to  save  them,"  she 
murmured,  half  dazed,  and  squeezing  hei  head 
hard  with  both  her  hands,  as  if  to  remove  the 
sudden  numbness  which  the  awful  revelation  had 
caused  her  brain.  "  They  must  be  warned,  but 
how?"  she  asked  herself  in  despair.  "I  have 
promised  not  to  mention  this  to  a  living  being, 
and  I  must  not  break  my  promise.  Neither  can  I 
wittingly  allow  the  Czar  to  be  assassinated,  even 
though  he  is  Israel's  enemy,  for  Judaism  and 
humanity  shrink  from  shedding  human  blood. 
And  Demetrius  whom  I  so  deeply  love  in  danger. 
No,"  she  ejaculated  aloud,  "this  vile  plot  must 
not  succeed !  but  how,  how,"  she  asked  herself, 
despairingly,  "  can  the  catastrophe  be  avoided  ? 
Ah,  I  have  it,"  she  exclaimed  excitedly,  as  the 
numbness  of  her  brain  seemed  to  thaw,  "  I  have 
it,  I  can  keep  my  promise  and  still  save  them,  I 
will  go  myself  to  the  awful  column,  and  remove 
the  fatal  machine  before  its  time  to  explode.    Let 


THE   CZAR  AND  THE   CANTATRICE.  213 

me  see,"  she  mentally  continued,  "  Father  Paulus 
said  the  time-fuse  was  set  for  exactly  half  past 
twelve  o'clock,  as  the  Emperor  is  expected  at 
twelve.  What  time  is  it  now?"  She  looked  at 
the  clock.  "  Five  minutes  to  eleven !  "Why,  the 
Duchess  may  be  here  at  any  moment  and  I  not 
dressed!  What  excuse  can  I  give,  for  keeping 
her  ladyship  waiting?  Ah,  I  have  it,"  she  ex- 
claimed aloud.  An  imperceptible  smile  played 
over  her  agitated  countenance,  as  she  moved  the 
clock's  hands  back  nearly  one  hour. 

Hardly  had  she  done  so,  when  the  door  opened, 
and  the  Dowager  Duchess  Dolgorouki  swept  in 
robed  in  a  magnificent  sable  cloak,  and  was 
about  to  offer  some  excuse  for  being  so  late,  when 
she  stepped  back  with  her  hands  thrown  up  in 
amazed  astonishment,  at  seeing  Gelta  not  yet 
dressed  for  the  ball. 

Gelta  readily  interpreted  the  horrified  look 
on  her  chaperone's  face,  and  laughingly  replied, 
"  now  Duchess  don't  look  so  dismayed,  for  I  havo 
just  been  consulting  the  clock,  and  it's  only  a 
quarter  past  ten." 

"  My  dear  child,"  interposed  the  Duchess,  "I 
assure  you  your  clock  is  very  slow." 

"  Very  well,  we  will  not  lose  time  in  discussing 
the  subject,"  Gelta  replied  with  a  smile,  "  for  I 
will  endeavor  to  make  a  three  minute's  stage 
change,"  and  she  disappeared  into  her  boudoir, 
rang  for  her  maid,  and  immediately  began  her 
toilette. 


214  GELTA  :  OR, 

Fifteen  minutes  later  she  issued  forth  in  a 
simple  but  elegant  ivory  satin  gown,  covered  with 
embroidered  maiden  hair  in  silver  thread,  with 
one  large  diamond  star  on  the  top  of  her  head, 
which  shone  like  the  star  of  Bethlehem  amid 
her  raven  locks. 

They  had  descended  the  few  steps  leading  from 
the  hotel,  and  Gelta  was  just  about  to  follow  the 
Duchess  into  her  carriage,  when  she  felt  a  slight 
touch  on  her  elbow,  and  looking  round  she  saw 
Father  Paulus  at  her  side,  on  whose  face  through 
the  rays  of  the  electric  light  in  front  of  the 
hotel,  she  saw  an  awful  reproach  depicted. 

Gelta  like  a  flash  took  in  the  situation,  and 
making  an  apology  to  the  Duchess  for  her 
momentary  absence,  addressed  the  priest  saying : 

"  Come  good  Father,  I  will  tell  my  maid  to  send 
those  candles  at  once  ; "  and  with  that  they  both 
entered  into  the  hall  of  the  hotel  where  Gelta  in 
a  low  whisper  said : 

"  I  must  go  to  avoid  suspicion,  but  I  will  dis- 
appear immediately  on  my  arrival.  Best  easy," 
and  with  that  she  at  once  rejoined  the  Duchess 
and  they  were  soon  dashing  along  to  the  Stara- 
bielsky  Palace. 

The  ball  room  was  crowded  with  the  many 
guests,  all  waiting  anxiously  for  the  first  dance  to 
begin  which  would  not  be  until  after  the  arrival  of 
the  Czar  who  was  due  at  half  past  11  o'clock. 

The  hour  had  already  passed,  but  almost  every 
one  there  present,  knew  that  the   Czar  always 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRICE.      215 

arrives  late ;  so  as  to  give  ample  time  to  liis  many 
detectives  to  report  at  head-quarters,  whether  any 
plots  upon  his  life  have  been  discovered,  and 
whether  he  may  attend  with  safety ;  so  some  of 
the  people  busied  themselves  with  whispering 
sweet  nothings,  while  others  took  delight  in 
viewing  the  beautiful  toilettes  of  their  friends 
and  acquaintances. 

All  the  riches  and  magnificence  of  the  court 
and  nobility  were  displayed  for  the  occasion,  the 
variety  of  National  costumes  Georgian,  Circas- 
sian, and  others  blended  with  the  many  Parisian 
creations,  were  simply  superb.  The  foreign 
ministers  and  visitors,  all  formed  a  coup-d  yoeil  of 
extreme  splendor. 

The  Princess  Starabielsky  wore  a  train  of  green 
velvet  embroidered  in  gold,  and  much  beriched 
with  diamonds,  and  other  precious  stones,  over  a 
white  satin  robe ;  upon  her  left  shoulder  was  a 
bow  of  blue  satin  ribbon,  on  which  were  the 
Empress's  initials  in  brilliants,  a  diadem  of 
brilliants  crowned  her  fair  coiffure. 

The  Princess  de  Socoloff  wore  a  silver  blue 
satin  toilette,  which  harmonized  with  her  mag- 
nificent auburn  hair,  and  she  was  one  blaze  of 
diamonds.  There  were  a  great  number  of  beauti- 
ful dresses  besides,  but  there  were  very  few  hand- 
some or  pretty  women  in  the  whole  assembly; 
indeed  generally  speaking,  beauty  is  rare  among 
the  Eussian  women,  it  is  very  uncommon  in  every 
rank,  yet  perhaps  no  other  people  in  the  world, 


216  gelta:  or, 

value  external  appearance  so  much,  or  who  are 
so  vain  of  their  person,  as  the  Russians. 

The  hostess  and  her  sister-in-law,  the  Princess 
de  Socoloff,  were  graciously  doing  the  honors  of 
the  evening,  when  the  latter,  after  having  a  mes- 
sage delivered  to  her,  quickly  called  the  Princess 
Starabielsky  aside,  and  imparted  to  her  the  sud- 
den and  dreadful  news  which  she  had  just  re- 
ceived of  how  her  child  had  been  seized  with 
sudden  convulsions  and  was  dying.  She  also  en- 
joined her  sister-in-law  not  to  mention  her  disap- 
pearance to  her  husband,  Prince  de  Socoloff,  who 
was  at  that  moment  in  the  ball  room,  so  as  not 
to  alarm  him,  and  she  added  if  matters  were  not 
quite  so  serious  as  her  agitated  maid  had  repre- 
sented, she  would  at  once  return. 

The  Princess  Starabielsky's  mind  was  too  much 
engrossed  with  her  success  as  a  hostess,  to  be 
visibly  affected  by  so  slight  an  occurrence,  as  a 
little  niece's  illness.  She  bade  her  sister-in-law 
not  to  take  things  too  much  to  heart,  and  to  re- 
turn as  quickly  as  possible. 

Princess  de  Socoloff,  with  a  cloak  thrown  over 
her  ball-dress,  soon  left  the  Palace,  mentally  con- 
gratulating herself  upon  her  safe  escape,  and  feel- 
ing herself  almost  a  martyr,  to  her  cause,  in 
leaving  the  husband  whom  she  had  never  really 
loved,  to  be  sacrificed,  in  order  that  his  absence 
should  not  arouse  suspicion. 

The  gardens  of  the  Palace  were  brilliantly 
illuminated.    Walls  of  light  were  on  each  side  of 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE   CANTATRICE.  217 

the  walks,  and  avenues,  pyramids  and  obelisks 
from  fifty  to  seventy  feet  in  height  were  to  be 
seen  mysteriously  overshadowing  the  many 
colored  lamps  which  were  placed  among 
the  flowers,  and  which  had  an  extremely 
pleasing  effect,  with  here,  and  there,  a  Greek 
statue,  or  Corinthian  column,  ornamenting 
some  sequestered  spot ;  resplendent  stars,  seem- 
ingly suspended  in  mid-air,  were  everywhere  to 
be  seen,  but  the  most  beautiful  sight  of  all  was 
two  large  fountains  about  sixty  feet  in  height, 
whose  waters  fell  in  artificial  cascades,  from  this 
height,  forming  a  very  pretty  stream,  while  in  the 
hollow  of  the  base-work,  all  the  way  down,  rows 
of  lamps  were  placed,  over  which  the  fluid  rushed 
from  the  cascade  like  a  shower  of  diamonds, 
whilst  the  flashing  lights  beneath  had  an  inde- 
scribably brilliant  effect.  At  the  magnificent  en- 
trance to  the  Palace,  the  fine,  untarnished,  bronze 
figures,  glittered  like  statues  of  gold,  in  the  rays 
of  the  hundreds  of  lighted  chandeliers.  A  gor- 
geous red  velvet  carpet  covered  the  richly  inlaid 
floor,  and  white  marble  staircase,  with  here,  and 
there,  a  statue  from  Rome,  or  Florence,  enlivened 
by  some  beautiful  tropical  plant.  In  the  midst 
of  all  this  brilliancy,  mingled  with  the  Stara- 
bielsky  liveries,  were  some  of  the  Czar's  chamber- 
lains, and  household  troops  on  guard,  for  the  last 
notes  of  the  National  Anthem  denoted  that  several 
minutes  had  elapsed  since  the  Czar's  arrival. 
Every  one  of  the  invited  guests  had  already  ar- 


218  gelta:  oe, 

rived,  everyone,  excepting,  the  Dowager  Duchess 
Dologorouki  and  Mademoiselle  Dechon,  whose 
absence  was  not  noticed  by  the  busy  hostess  amid 
that  vast  crowd. 

Volodia  Yarsolof,  the  Duchess's  young  nephew, 
and  his  friend,  Demetrius,  were  much  concerned, 
and  were  speculating  as  to  what  could  have  en- 
tailed the  delay.  And  the  nervous  and  eager 
glances  which  they  both  cast  every  now  and  then, 
at  the  entrance  from  the  top  of  the  grand  stairway 
on  which  they  stood,  denoted  the  agitation  of 
their  minds,  for  Demetrius  had  mentally  vowed 
that  Gelta  should  be  his  wife  within  the  ensuing 
twenty-four  hours.  Come  what  might,  even  if  life 
itself  should  have  to  be  forfeited  soon  afterward, 
for  what  was  the  use  of  living  without  her  ?  Bet- 
ter one  short  hour  of  extreme  bliss,  than  a  long 
period  of  weary  existence,  and  the  twitchings  of 
his  nervous  lips  beneath  his  small,  light-brown 
moustache  plainly  evinced  the  suppressed  inward 
storm. 

Volodia  also  betrayed  signs  of  mental  agitation, 
as  the  time  was  drawing  near  wherein  he  would 
have  to  play  his  part  in  the  plot  evolved  by  his 
friend.  He  felt  a  momentary  remorse  for  the 
trusting  girl,  who  was  so  soon  to  fall  into  love's 
pitfall,  and  he  almost  viewed  his  Aunt's  non-arri- 
val with  a  feeling  of  relief. 

The  head  of  the  third  Section  who  stood  at  some 
distance  eyeing  the  two  young  men's  anxious  look 
of  expectancy,  would  have  become  suspicious, 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  OANTATRIOE.  219 

had  they  been  other,  than  His  Highness  the 
Grand  Duke  Demetrius,  and  his  friend  Count 
Yarsolof. 

"But,"  mused  the  old  beaurocrat,  "I  wonder 
what  those  two  young  scapegoats  are  up  to  now  ? 
What  can  be  their  game  ?  Some  timid  dear,  I'll 
wager,"  and  with  this  cynical  conclusion,  the  head 
of  the  third  Section  murmured  with  a  sigh  of  re- 
gret, "  Ah,  lucky  dogs  they,  who  have  only  the 
game  of  hearts  to  pursue." 

"  Tou  will  give  me  the  sign  of  their  arrival," 
said  Demetrius  in  a  very  low  voice  to  his  friend,  as 
he  heard  the  distant  roll  of  a  carriage  approach- 
ing, "  for  you  know,"  he  continued,  "  completely 
to  throw  her  off  her  guard,  she  must  not  see  me 
here  to-night." 

Volodia  assented  to  this  final  arrangement  and 
Demetrius  strolled  over  to  the  opposite  side  of  the 
grand  staircase  to  smoke  a  cigar  beneath  the 
shadow  of  a  huge  palm  tree. 

Meanwhile  the  Duchess's  equipage  was  rolling 
along  the  avenue  towards  the  Starabielsky  Palace 
at  a  great  speed.  The  clock  of  the  Isaac  church, 
had  just  struck  twelve,  and  as  she  heard  the  time, 
Gelta  leaned  back  in  the  carriage  overcome  by  a 
faint  dizziness  as  the  thought  overwhelmed  her 
that  she  might  arrive  too  late. 

The  Duchess  who  had  been  prattling  on  at  a 
great  rate,  suddenly  paused  to  enquire  the  cause 
of  her  companion's  silence.  "  I  have  been  listen- 
ing to  your  interesting  narative,"  Gelta  managed 


220  gelta:  or, 

to  stammer  out,  and  making  supreme  effort,  to 
exert  her  will  power  to  calm  lier  inward  agitation, 
she  continued,  "I  am  so  very  emotional,  and  the 
excitement  of  attending  this  grand  ball  to-night 
has  given  me  a  slight  headache,  which  will  no ' 
doubt  soon  pass  away  if  I  can  manage  not  to 
speak  so  much.  So  dear  Duchess  pray  don't  mind 
my  mood,"  and  then  she  gazed  silently  out  of  the 
carriage  window  to  hide  the  tumult  of  her  over 
burdened  soul.  After  some  moments  silence  she 
suddenly  turned  to  her  chaperone  and  expressed 
her  intense  delight  at  the  brilliant  illuminations 
for  they  had  by  this  time  entered  the  gardens  of 
the  Palace. 

"  Look ! "  cried  the  old  Duchess  in  dismay  to 
Gelta,  as  they  alighted  at  the  Superb  Entrance, 
and  indicating  the  Emperor's  retinue,  whispered, 
"  we  are  late  the  Czar  has  arrived."  Gelta  felt  an 
icy  numbness  take  hold  of  her,  at  the  information; 
however  making  a  heroic  effort  to  calm  herself ; 
and  bowing  in  acknowledgement  to  Yolodia's 
greetings,  Gelta  swept  up  the  marble  staircase  with 
the  Duchess  and  Yolodia  at  her  side,  and  entered 
the  magnificent  ball  room. 

The  Grand  Duke  Demetrius  who  had  caught  a 
glimpse  from  his  hiding  place,  of  the  woman 
whom  it  is  no  exaggeration  to  say  he  idolized, 
went  out  into  the  garden  to  conceal,  from  the 
curious  on-lookers,  the  inward  storm  which  the 
sight  of  her  had  set  raging. 

As  the  Duchess  and  her  companion  entered  the 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATKICE.      221 

ball  room,  the  hostess  came  forward  with  a  few 
words  of  welcome,  and  then  whispered,  indicating 
to  the  other  end  of  the  room,  "  His  Majesty  has 
just  arrived." 

It  was  a  scene  of  splendor  and  gorgeous  mag- 
nificence. 

As  Gelta's  gaze  wandered  towards  the  Imperial 
family,  her  eyes  alighted  upon  Mrs.  Wilson,  who 
was  gracefully  going  through  the  evolution  of  a 
quadrille  in  the  far  off  corner  of  the  room,  it  at 
once  flashed  through  Gelta's  mind  that  this 
English  woman,  whom  for  months  past  she  had 
suspected  as  being  one  of  Boroffsky's  conspirators, 
was  wholly  innocent. 

In  the  general  excitement  of  the  dazzling 
magnificent  scene,  there,  standing  on  the  Dai's, 
surrounded  by  his  courtiers  was  the  Czar  gra- 
ciously exchanging  greeting  with  the  Foreign 
Diplomats ;  his  sweet  consort  on  his  arm.  The 
Empress  whose  eyes  had  an  anxious,  wandering 
look,  appeared  anything  but  happy. 

Gelta,  while  following  her  chaperon  had  arrived 
within  ten  paces  of  the  Improvised  Throne,  when 
her  eyes  caught  sight  of  the  Corinthian  column 
with  the  creeping  plant,  under  which  was  hid  the 
fatal  clock.  For  a  moment  she  swayed  like  a 
reed,  before  an  approaching  storm,  under  the 
awful  cyclone  which  hovered  over  her  whirling 
brain ;  whilst  her  other  remarkable  self,  composed 
of  her  undaunted  will  power  and  determination, 
enjoined  her  not  to  lose  her  courage,  until  she 


222  gelta:  or, 

had  accomplished  the  task  of  saving  Israel's 
enemy.  Just  then  she  overheard  the  remark  from 
a  passing  couple  that  supper  was  not  to  be  served 
before  one  o'clock  and  that  it  was  not  quite  half 
past  twelve,  and  that  from  ten  until  one  o'clock, 
was  a  long  wait,  for  one  with  a  good  appetite. 

Gelta's  lips  quivered  with  convulsions,  as  she 
mentally  repeated  the  time  "  Not  quite  half  past 
twelve,  and  the  fatal  fuse  was  set  for  that  time." 

Her  mind  was  filled  with  despair  and  horror; 
her  brain  was  hot  like  glowing  coals ;  her  heart 
was  in  her  throat,  she  felt  that  she  must  at  once 
snatch  the  fatal  box  while  it  was  yet  time,  from 
out  its  hiding  place.  Happily  her  excited  con- 
dition was  not  noticed  in  the  crush ;  the  Duchess 
had  refrained  from  gathering  her  many  friends 
there,  about  her,  because  of  her  companion's  sick 
headache,  and  with  her  back  turned  to  her  young 
protege  was  coquetting  with  some  musty  old 
beaux. 

Gelta  moved  towards  the  plant,  her  spinal 
column  felt  like  a  block  of  ice ;  a  numbness  served 
almost  to  paralyze  her  movements  as  she  stooped 
and  put  her  hand  into  the  shrubs. 

The  Emperor  for  the  first  time  that  evening, 
caught  sight  of  Gelta  while  bending  over  the 
plant,  and  thought  the  action  denoted  an  eccentric 
caprice  of  the  American  girl  to  possess  herself  of 
one  of  the  creeping  sprays.  However  the  dread- 
ful expression  which  overspread  her  face  soon 
disillusioned  him ;  and  as  he  was  about  to  speak, 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRIOE.  223 

she  gave  a  suppressed  scream  of  horror,  as  she 
pulled  the  clock  out  and  exclaimed : 

"  Dynamite  ! ! !  " 

Everybody  for  the  moment  unconsciously 
shrank  back  speechless  with  fright,  as  they  saw 
the  emblem  of  death  in  her  up-raised  hand,  and 
while  during  that  moment  she  was  quickly  making 
her  way  to  the  door,  she  shouted, 

"  Stand  aside !  Dynamite ! ! !  " 

The  scene  of  scampering  and  hubbub  that  en- 
sued baffles  all  description.  After  the  first  mo- 
ment of  horror-stricken  surprise  had  elapsed, 
everybody  in  that  vast  crowd  dropped  their  dig- 
nity of  gait,  and  ran  toward  the  opposite  exit. 
Men  roughly  elbowed  their  way  right  and  left  to 
reach  the  door  first,  old  women  and  young  girls 
were  seized  with  hysteria  and  were  trampled  and 
bruised  by  the  maddening  throng. 

The  Empress  fell  fainting  into  the  Czar's  arms 
and  as  he  hurriedly  glanced  about  for  some  as- 
sistance, he  saw  that  all  his  courtiers  and  guards 
had  deserted  him,  for  they  had  all  rushed  toward 
the  door  with  the  natural  instinct  of  self-preserva- 
iion  first 

After  Gelta  had  quickly  disappeared  from  the 
voom,  a  perfect  panic  set  in,  the  frenzied  guests 
made  one  mad  dash,  to  reach  the  door,  for  the 
conviction  had  suddenly  come  over  all,  that  the 
entire  Palace  was  charged  with  Dynamite,  and 
therefore  everyone  was  frantically  endeavoring  to 
escape  from    the    building,  without    the    least 


224  gelta:  or, 

chance  of  really  doing  so,  since  they  had  block- 
aded rather  than  cleared  the  passage  way. 

A  loud  explosion  was  suddenly  heard  which 
shook  the  structure,  a  howl  of  despair  arose  from 
the  assembled  crowd,  as  they  with  horror  awaited 
the  supreme  moment  of  being  blown  into  eter- 
nity. 

At  the  entrance  the  guards  had  somewhat  re- 
laxed their  vigilance  and  were  just  about  to  enjoy 
themselves  in  their  own  peculiar  way,  when  Gelta 
appeared  at  the  head  of  the  grand  staircase  with 
the  fatal  box  uplifted  above  her  head,  shouting : 

"Dynamite,  run  for  your  lives ! " 

They  needed  no.  second  invitation,  for  at  the 
same  time  hearing  the  sudden  shrieks  which  is- 
sued from  the  ball  room,  the  guards  and  servants 
suddenly  fled  from  the  palace  and  its  grounds. 

Gelta  had  almost  reached  the  garden  where 
she  intended  to  throw  the  fatal  box  away,  when 
she  almost  instantly  felt  herself  lifted  into  space 
and  hurled  with  great  force  through  the  air. 

Demetrius  who  had  been  smoking  a  cigar  at 
the  further  end  of  the  garden,  and  endeavoring  to 
compose  and  calm  his  excited  thoughts  in  regard 
to  Gelta  who  was  so  soon  to  become  the  mistress 
of  his  Temple,  was  aroused  from  his  meditations, 
and  attracted  by  th,e  confused  sounds  issuing 
from  the  ball  room.  He  was  just  about  to  wend 
his  way  back  to  the  Palace,  to  ascertain  its  cause; 
when  he  heard  a  loud  explosion,  and  immediately 
afterwards  he  saw  what  at  first  appeared  to  him 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRICE.  225 

like  a  cloud,  and  then  he  perceived  a  human  fig- 
ure robed  in  white  hurled  through  the  air ! ! ! 

He  stood  for  a  moment  paralyzed  with  fear  and 
rooted  to  the  spot,  and  then  excited  remarks 
reached  him  from  the  escaping  guests,  such  as : 
"  he  is  saved !  She  saved  the  Czar's  life !  Gelta 
Dechon  is  a  great  heroine ! ! !  " 

Like  a  flash  of  lightning  Demetrius  realized 
what  the  explosion  meant,  and  whose  form  it  was, 
which  he  had  seen  whirled  through  the  air.  A 
mad  impulse  seized  upon  him  and  quickened  his 
energies,  he  hurriedly  sped  in  the  direction  where 
the  form  had  disappeared. 

After  some  ten  minutes  of  hasty  exploration  of 
the  grounds,  Demetrius  saw  an  inanimate  white 
form,  lying  a  few  paces  away  at  the  feet  of  a 
marble  Nymph. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

Twelve  hours  later,  when  Gelta  first  regained 
consciousness  after  the  ball,  she  found  herself  in 
her  own  bed,  with  Demetrius  sitting  on  a  low 
chair  at  the  foot  of  her  couch,  with  his  head 
wearily  resting  between  his  hands. 

Two  strange  men  sat  in  the  further  end  of  the 
room,  who  had  evidently  just  finished  a  consulta- 
tion. Her  clear  brain  at  once  recognized  them  as 
a  couple  of  physicians  by  their  last  remark  which 
she  had  overheard. 


226  gelta:  ob, 

"  Amputation  is  quite  useless  in  this  case,  for 
she  cannot  possibly  survive ! " 

Gelta  quickly  shut  her  eyes  again  as  the  over- 
whelming news  suddenly  swept  over  her ;  she  lay 
some  minutes  motionless,  her  long  eyelashes 
drooping  over  her  weary  eyes,  an  expression  of 
exhaustion  visible  on  her  pale  face ;  in  spite  of 
this,  it  breathed  a  full  and  perfect  peace,  such  as 
is  only  enjoyed  by  those,  who  have  ceased  to 
expect,  or  to  fear  anything  in  this  life.  After  a 
lapse  of  some  minutes  she  opened  her  eyes  once 
more,  and  asked  Demetrius  whether  the  Czar  was 
saved. 

"  Yes,"  answered  Demetrius,  in  a  low,  husky 
voice,  "Yes,  saved!  and  through  you!" 

"  Thank  God  for  that ! "  she  murmured  with 
fervor,  a  sweet  smile  lighting  up  her  face  as  their 
eyes  met;  for  now  she  felt  neither  dread  nor 
pain. 

The  physicians  came  forward.  The  elder  of 
the  two,  a  venerable  looking  man  of  about  sixty, 
with  heavy  gold  rimmed  spectacles  shading  his 
eyes,  addressed  her  in  the  kindest  of  voices. 

"What  do  you  feel,  my  child?"  he  asked  with 
deep  sympathy,  as  he  glanced  at  the  outlines  of 
the  limp  and  helpless  form  beneath  the  sheets, 
for  both  her  limbs  had  been  hopelessly  shattered. 

"  Nothing  Doctor,"  she  murmured  slowly,  only 
a  great  numbness,  a  great  weariness,  a  sort  of  ex- 
haustion stealing  over  me,  while  a  great  peace 
and  quiet  fills  my  heart,"  and  then  with  a  sad 


THE  OZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRICE.  227 

sweet  smile,  she  resumed,  "Doctor,  since  your 
deep  learning  and  undisputed  skill  is  useless  in 
my  case,  would  you  mind  leaving  me  alone  with 
my  friend  for  a  while,"  indicating  Demetrius, 
who  sat  bowed  with  grief.  The  two  physicians 
acquiesced  and  passed  into  the  next  room,  then 
Gelta  turned  to  Demetrius  and  said : 

"Send  for  Kabbi  Kantrowitz,  and  also  for  a 
lawyer  at  once,  and  tell  the  latter  to  bring  all 
that  is  wanted  to  draw  up  a  will," 

Demetrius  mechanically  obeyed,  and  an  hour 
later  the  lawyer  appeared.  The  business  was 
quickly  despatched,  and  Rabbi  Kantrowitz 
entered  the  patient's  room. 

We  will  not  dwell  upon  the  intense  and  sincere 
grief  of  the  good  Rabbi  or  of  her  devoted  maid 
Marriane,  when  they  beheld  the  sacrifice  which 
this  noble  daughter  of  Israel  had  offered  up  to 
save  the  Czar.  "What  sublime  mercy  she  had 
shown  to  him,  who  had  always  been  so  merciless 
to  her  race !  Would  the  Czar  now  repent  of  his 
past  cruelty,  and  become  more  Christian-like  in 
his  charity,  and  human  compassion?  Perhaps! 
who  knows ! 

Gelta  in  her  will  had  directed  first  that  a  thou- 
sand pounds  should  be  given  to  Schlomer  Gold- 
stein, to  enable  him  leisurely  to  pursue  his 
studies ;  second,  that  she  should  be  buried  in 
Paris,  near  her  beloved  parents  in  the  Pere  La 
Chaise,  her  maid  Marriane  was  to  receive  one 
thousand  pounds  and  after  having  accompanied 


228  gelta:  or, 

her  remains  to  France,  was  to  join  her  own 
relatives  there,  and  when  all  expenses  had  been 
paid,  the  residue  should  go  to  Rabbi  Kantrowitz, 
that  is,  a  thousand  pounds  to  him  personally, 
and  the  remainder  as  a  fund  over  which  he  should 
have  the  full  and  sole  control  to  assist  those  in 
distress. 

After  these  preliminaries  had  been  attended  to, 
and  Rabbi  Kantrowitz  had  joined  the  physicians 
in  the  next  room,  so  as  to  leave  them  both  alone, 
Gelta  held  out  her  right  hand,  which  strange  to 
say,  had  escaped  injury,  to  Demetrius,  and  making 
a  desperate  effort  to  raise  her  head  a  little  by  a 
movement  which  gave  her  intense  pain,  in  a  low 
and  broken  voice,  she  slowly  murmured, 

"Demetrius  darling,  to  you  I  leave  nothing, 
nothing,  save  my  poor  weary  heart!"  and  she 
continued  in  accents  broken  with  deep  emotion, 
"  It  has  been  yours  ever  since  the  first  time  I  met 
you,  that  day  in  the  British  Museum,  for  it  was 
in  the  treasure  room,"  she  continued  with  a  sad 
smile,  "that  I  first  beheld  you." 

He  threw  his  head  on  the  pillow  near  hers  and 
cried !  cried  as  people  only  cry  when  for  the  first 
time  they  face  agonizing  despair. 

Gelta,  at  sight  of  his  grief,  felt  her  poor  faint 
heart  weep  also,  but  her  eyes  were  dry,  she  knew 
what  he  meant,  and  a  deep  pity  for  him  invaded 
her  soul.  If  she  had  felt  quite  sure  that  he 
could  live  the  life  for  which  she  wanted  to  edu- 
cate him,  worthily  and  well  without  her,  she 


/         THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRICE.      229 

would  perhaps,  not  have  felt  so  sorry  to  pass 
away,  but  submitted  humbly  to  her  fate.  But 
now  she  trembled  for  him. 

"Demetrius,"  she  whispered,  while  lovingly 
caressing  his  head,  which  was  buried  in  the  pil- 
low, "Demetrius  darling,  I  feel  we  both  shall 
soon  meet  again,  for  the  longest  earthly  stay,  is 
but  a  few  brief  moments  of  Time's  travel, 
snatched  while  journeying  upward  to  that  happy 
realm  of  lasting  peace." 

Gelta's  previous  robust  health  enabled  her  to 
linger  longer,  than  could  have  naturally  been 
expected. 

It  was  twenty-four  hours  after  the  ball, 
Rabbi  Kantrowitz  seated  near  her  bed,  had  just 
finished  reading  the  Tchillim,  or  prayers  for  the 
soul,  interrupted  now  and  again  by  the  suppressed 
sobs  which  broke  from  Demetrius'  heart. 

Gelta  beckoned  to  the  eldest  of  the  two 
doctors,  who  were  standing  in  the  adjoining  room, 
abstractedly  gazing  into  the  open  fire  grate.  In 
an  instant  the  old  physician  was  at  her  side,  after 
a  moment's  pause,  she  said  in  a  clear  voice, 

"  Professor,  I  want  you  to  take  a  message  from 
the  dying,  to  the  Czar ! " 

The  doctor  bowed  his  willingness  and  Gelta  in 
clear  low  tones  continued, 

"  Tell  the  Czar,  that  in  order  to  save  his  life,  I, 
a  Jewess,  have  willingly  forfeited  mine  own 
instead,  and  if  he  thinks  that  my  conduct  toward 
him  is  deserving  of  any  reward,  tell  him  to  with- 


230  gelta:  or, 

draw  his  hates  and  persecutions  from  the  grossly 
misunderstood,  but  patient  children  of  Israel." 

"  Your  message  shall  be  carefully  delivered  to 
his  Majesty  the  Czar,"  replied  the  professor 
slowly  and  much  moved,  and  after  a  moment's 
silence  he  asked, 

"  Is  that  all  mademoiselle  ?  " 

"  That  is  all  of  the  message  which  I  wish  you 
to  convey  to  his  Majesty"  and  then  she  resumed 
with  a  faltering  voice,  of  suppressed  deep 
emotion,  "  Professor,  I  have  still  another  favor  to 
ask  of  you." 

"Speak  my  child,"  he  answered  with  much 
kindness. 

After  a  brief  silence,  she  slowly  resumed,  "When 
I  am  no  more,  I  want  you  to  take  my  heart  from 
my  body  and  have  it  cremated,"  she  murmured 
amid  suppressed  sobs,  "and  then  give  it  to  the 
Grand  Duke  Demetrius.  The  rest  of  my  body  is 
to  be  shipped  to  Paris  instructions  will  be  found 
to  that  effect  in  my  will,"  and  then  after  a  mo- 
ment's silence,  she  sadly  asked — "you  will  do 
this?" 

"Your  wish  shall  be  my  solemn  duty,"  he 
quietly  replied. 

"  God  bless  you  Doctor ! "  she  said,  as  she  sud- 
denly grasped  his  hand  and  carried  it  to  her  lips 
with  fervent  gratitude,  "  God  bless  you,"  she  re- 
peated and  sank  back  in  exhaustion. 

A  couple  of  hours  later  when  Gelta  opened  her 
eyes  she  saw  Demetrius  sitting  at  the  head  of  her 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRICE.  231 

couch,  silently  weeping.  The  physicians  and 
Rabbi  Kantrowitz  were  in  the  adjoining  room. 

"  Don't  cry,  dearest,"  she  said  in  a  sad,  cares- 
sing voice.  He  covered  his  face  with  his  hands, 
in  a  violent  gesture  of  despair. 

"  I  think,"  she  went  on,  with  a  great  effort  to 
appear  calm,  "I  think  we  ought  to  prepare  for 
the  mercy  and  kindness  which  we  expect  from 
the  Almighty  towards  us,,  by  the  kindness  and 
mercy  we  have  shown  to  those  less  fortunately 
situated  than  ourselves,  and  I  want  to  feel,  that 
amid  the  hollow  din  and  tinselled  vanity  of  the 
life  which  surrounds  you,  you  will  always  be 
good  and  merciful  to  all ;  so  then  when  you  leave 
earth  your  passport  of  lifo  may  bear  a  clean,  and 
honorable  record,  to  lay  at  the  feet  of  your 
Maker." 

He  got  up  and  walked  to  the  curtained  window 
to  wipe  his  tear-blinded  eyes. 

Gelta  lingered  for  some  hours  longer,  silently 
watching  Demetrius.  She  found  it  so  hard  to 
speak  of  their  parting  now  that  it  was  at  hand — 
only  just  before  the  end ;  about  thirty  hours  after 
the  ball,  she  called  him  to  her  side  to  take  leave 
of  him. 

"  Don't  forget  your  promise,  Demetrius,"  she 
said,  almost  under  her  breath,  "  try  to  serve  the 
children  of  Israel  with  merciful  Christianity," 
and  then  she  continued  with  a  sad  smile  and 
faltering  voice,  "when  my  heart  is — is — cremated, 
enshrine  it  in  a  small  golden  heart,  which  you 


232  gelta:  or, 

will  wear  on  your  watch  chain,  next  to  your 
charm  of  the  little  golden  cross  with  Christus  upon 
it,  so  that  you  may  always  be  reminded,  that  true 
Christianity  is  merely  transposed  Judaism  ! 

Don't  despair,"  she  moaned  in  response  to  his 
choking  sobs,  "  return  to  your  home  and  peoplev 
it  is  God's  will!"  the  last  words  were  almost 
inaudible — it  was  a  mere  movement  of  the  lips. 

She  lay  quite'  calm  till  the  end  came  on,  with 
half  closed  eyes.  Her  strength  was  ebbing  away 
too  quickly  to  allow  her  to  speak,  only  her  band 
sought  Demetrius,  and  her  slender  white  fingers 
softly  pressed  his  to  her  heart,  as  she  murmured : 

"  It  has  always  been  yours,  you  will  soon  pos- 
sess it." 

A  few  moments  before  she  died,  she  opened 
her  eyes,  and  in  an  audible  sigh  whispered, 

"Be  kind  to  Israel's  children." 

Her  eyes  closed,  a  tremor  issued  from  her  lips, 
and  her  soul  had  escaped  from  the  ills  and  temp- 
tations of  the  flesh. 

Life  and  time  shall  fade  away 

While  Heaven  and  Virtue  bloom  for  ever. 


FINIS. 


THE  CZAR  AND  THE  CANTATRICE.       233 


ENVOI. 


A  young  Jewess  sacrificed  her  life  to  save  the 
Czar  from  assassination,  the  Czar,  who  during 
the  thirteen  years  of  his  reign  had  spent  untold 
millions  to  hedge  himself  about  with  guards, 
police,  spies,  and  every  known  form  of  protection 
in  the  endeavor  to  thwart  the  nihilists,  who 
were  unceasing  in  their  efforts  to  kill  him,  and  he 
notwithstanding  the  fact  that  his  life  had  been 
saved  by  a  Jewess,  continued  throughout  the 
whole  of  his  reign  to  persecute  the  Jews  with 
inhuman  ferocity.  At  the  last,  this  same  Czar 
when  the  skill  of  the  ablest  surgeons  and  phy- 
sicians of  the  world  had  failed,  even  to  alleviate 
the  dreadful  malady  from  which  he  suffered,  was 
obliged  to  invoke  the  aid  of  a  Jewish  Professor 
of  Medicine,  by  whose  skill  and  devotion  his  life 
was  prolonged  for  many  weeks  and  his  dying 
moments  made  calm  and  peaceful,  and  almost 
painless.     Such  is  the  mission  of  the  Jews. 

The  Jews  possess  the  greatest  of  all  virtues,  in 
which  they  rival  the  best  of  Christians,  and  that 
is  Charity.     When  they  give,  they  give  liberally. 

The  genius  of  the  Semetic  race  cannot  be 
adulterated.     Thus  has  it  ever  been,  thus  will  it 


234    GELTA  !  OR,  THE  02 AE  AND  THE  OANTATEIOE. 

ever  be,   the  hated,  persecuted  Jew,   forever  re- 
turning good  for  evil. 

In  history  in  the  future  as  in  the  past,  the 
genius  of  the  Seme  tic  race  flows  pure  and  un- 
adulterated. It  is  their  mission,  the  mission  of  the 
chosen  people  of  God.  They  have  still  to  protest 
against  the  materialism  just  now  so  rife,  but  they 
are  to  serve  as  the  bond  of  union  between  hostile 
people  in  advancing  the  glorious  cause  of  humanity. 


SOME  OPINIONS  CONCERNING  "CELTA." 


OUR  GREAT  HERO,  ADMIRAL  GEORGE  DEWEY, 

has  just  written  Miss  Nadage  Doree,  expressing  his  great  admiration  for  the 
lofty  character  of  the  heroine  of  her  book,  and  thanking  her  for  the  honor  she 
did  him  in  permitting  him  to  read  "  Gelta." 
Flagship  Olympia,  Manila,  March  22, 1899. 

COMMODORE  PHILIP. 

U.  S.  S.  Texas,  First  Rate,  off  Tompkinsville,  S.  I..  N.  Y.,  August  28d,  1898. 
Your  valuable  contribution  of  "  Gelta  "  to  the  Texas  library  has  been  received. 
I  have  to  thank  you  above  all  for  the  spirit  which  prompted  the  gift. 

I.  ZANGWILL, 

the  famous  English  novelist,  in  speaking  of  the  book,  says :  "  '  Gelta '  is  written 
in  a  bold,  masterly  way;  it  is  replete  with  flashes  of  genius.  The  story  of  the 
Russian  Emperor's  passions  is  an  intensely  interesting  one  and  is  most  skillfully 
constructed.  The  humor  of  the  Whitechapel  scenes  is  provided  in  abundance, 
together  with  touches  of  pathos,  an  inseparable  concomitant.  The  dramatic 
situations  are  all  logical  and  expressive;  there  is  not  a  lay  figure  in  the  book;  all 
are  flesh  and  blood  creations.  The  author  is  on  her  own  ground,  instinct  with 
tremendous  feeling  and  purpose." 

LEON  HUHNER. 

Your  book  afforded  me  a  view  of  Russian  life  and  manners  which  had  nevei 
before  been  presented  to  me  so  vividly  or  so  picturesquely.  I  could  not  but  ad- 
mire the  uniformly  excellent  flow  of  language  and  the  splendid  specimens  of 
pathos  with  which  the  book  is  replete,  reaching  its  climax  in  the  closing  chapter. 
"  Gelta  "  might  be  called  an  analytical  study  of  a  true  Jewish  heart.  Through- 
out her  experiences,  whether  in  the  hovel  in  Whitechapel  or  in  the  presence  of 
royalty,  the  heroine's  character  is  alike  consistent  and  beautiful.  You  have  pre- 
sented the  happy  blending  which  has  been  characteristic  of  Jewish  women  in 
every  age— namely,  a  fixed  purpose  to  do  good  and  a  steadfast  devotion  to  the 
ancient  faith. 

MR.  CHAS.  H.  HASWELL. 

Your  book  ("  Gelta  ")  is  not  only  very  interesting  but  one  of  exceptional  merit. 

THE  REV.  HEPWORTH. 

New  York  Herald. 
"  I  am  deeply  impressed  with  the  earnest,  lofty  soul  of  your  Jewish  heroine. 
You  have  drawn  a  great  and  beautiful  picture  of  the  romance  and  poetry  of 
Jewish  life.  '  Gelta's '  exalted  sentiment  of  life  is  a  Christ  lesson,  being  free 
from  prejudice  against  any  human  being,  regarding  every  man  as  a  brother, 
every  woman  as  a  sister,  and  striving  to  cultivate  and  cherish  genuine  human 
love  for  all  that  shall  find  expression  in  the  effort  to  better  the  condition  of  all. 
Such  is  the  spirit  of  'Gelta,1  and  therefore  I  sincerely  wish  the  book  might  be 
read  by  every  family  in  our  own  and  other  lands." 

THE  REV.  DR.  M'CHESNEY, 
Dean  of  Fine  Arts,  Syracuse  University,  writes  :  "Thank  you  for  allowing  me  to 
enter  the  beautiful  soul  of  the  Jew  through  the  gateway  of  the  '  Christly  jtelta.' 
Your  canvas  is  large,  your  picture  is  great.  *  Gelta '  is  a  work  that  must  call 
forth  the  greatest  praise  from  all  who  appreciate  the  highest  and  purest  attri- 
butes in  character." 


THE  REV.  HENRY  FRANK 

writes  :  "I  have  just  read  a  very  interesting  and  unique  novel  entitled  'Gelta.' 
It  has  afforded  me  exquisite  pleasure.  It  abounds  in  eloquent  and  thrilling 
passages,  glowing  conversation,  dramatic  situations,  and  holds  the  interest  in- 
tently from  the  opening  chapter  to  the  very  end.  It  is  not  a  little  remarkable 
that  a  Jewish  authoress  should  put  into  the  mouth  of  her  Jewish  heroine  such 
exalted  and  appreciative  sentiment  concerning  Jesus  Christ,  the  Christian  Saviour 
The  passages  referring  to  Him  are  so  lofty  any  Christian  minister  might  embody 
them  i.i  his  sermons  and  by  doing  so  elevate  his  most  enlightened  audience.  The 
character  of  4  Gelta ,  is  extraordinary  and  in  the  eyes  of  some,  no  doubt,  quite 
impossible.  But  all  ideals  are  impossible  to  the  unawakened.  She  forestalls  that 
womanly  character  that  some  day  may  become  the  universal  inspirerof  the  race. 
The  book  must  exert  a  great  influence  for  good.    Its  literary  quality  is  very  high." 

THE  REV.  PEREIRA  MENDES 
writes :    "  We  owe  you  much.    VGelta's '  earnest  purpose  and  high  aim  in  life 
make  her  an  object  lesson.    Every  home  should  contain  '  Gelta.'    The  book  has 
a  great  purpose." 

THE  REV.  MADISON  C.  PETERS 

writes  :  " l  Gelta '  is  a  splendid  exhibition  of  genius  of  a  Jewish  authoress,  and 
show  the  true,  grand  and  human  spirit  of  Judaism  toward  Christianity.  It  will 
essentially  help  broaden  and  uplift  the  Christians.    The  book   has   a  great 


FLOYD  WILSON, 

the  metaphysical  writer,  writes  :  "  '  Gelta '  is  a  story  worthy  the  psychic  age. 
It  has  taken  evolution  so  many  thousand  years  for  mentality  to  create.  Your 
heroine  is  a  masterly  type  of  the  grandest  mentality  that  marks  the  closing 
years  of  this  century.  The  book  is  full  of  strong  dramatic  situations.  The 
story  will  grow,  not  jump,  to  popular  favor." 

THE  RABBI  BERNARD  DRACHMAN 

says:  "'Gelta'  produced  a  very  deep  impression  upon  me.  The  warmth  of 
Jewish  sentiment,  together  with  the  lofty  and  ideal  views  of  humanity  which  she 
expresses,  make  its  influence  morally  very  beneficent.  The  book  should  be  put 
into  the  hands  of  our  thinking  young  people.  Its  literary  and  artistic  value  is 
very  high." 

"THE  HEBREW  STANDARD." 

"Gelta;  or,  The  Czar  and  the  Cantatrice "  is  a  book  of  absorbing  interest. 
Every  one  should  read  it.    It  is  a  startling  expos6  of  originality  and  power." 

"  NEW  YORK  JOURNAL." 

Miss  Doree's  New  Book. — The  lover  of  stories  with  plenty  of  plot  and  incident 
will  have  a  delightful  hour  or  two  when  he  sits  down  to  read  u  Gelta;  or,  The 
Czar  and  the  Cantatrice,"  a  new  novel  by  Nadage  Doree.  Judaism  and  Nihilism 
are  the  sources  upon  which  Miss  Dor6e  draws  for  a  series  of  incidents  and  de- 
scriptions so  richly  variegated  that  one  might  think  she  had  discovered  a  field 
hitherto  unploughed.  I.  Zangwill,  the  famous  English  novelist,  pays  high 
tribute  to  the  book. 

"THE  STAATS-ZEITUNG." 

•'  Gelta;  or,  The  Czar  and  the  Cantatrice,"  by  Nadage  Doree,  is  a  very  remark 
able  book— its  diction  is  masterful  throughout  and  its  stirring  scenes  of  intense 
passion  between  the  Russian  Emperor  and  the  Jewish  maiden  Gelta  are  most 
dramatic  and  full  of  the  pulse  of  life. 


Ml 


NADAGE  DOREE, 

THE  BRILLIANT  YOUNG 
EMOTIONAL   ACTRESS 

WELL  APPEAR  SHORTLY  IN  AN  ELABORATE 
DRAMATIZATION  OF 

"GELTA; 

OR, 

THE  CZAR 

AND 

THE  SONGSTRESS." 


THE  HIGHLY  GIFTED  YOUHG  EMOTIONAL  ACTRESS 

MISS  NADAQE  DOREE. 


NADAGE  DOREE 

Is  an  actress  of  varied  accomplishments,  from  jolly  comedy  to  intense  tragedy. 
She  acted  the  potion  scene  from  "  Romeo  and  Juliet M  in  a  manner  that  capti- 
vated the  surprised  house.— New  York  Sun. 

MISS  NADAGE  DOREE 

in  the  balcony  scene,  made  a  notable  hit.  Her  acting  was  girlish  intelligent, 
forceful  and  impassioned,  and  she  was  rewarded  by  the  warmest  applause.  She 
was  beautifully  costumed,  and  with  her  rich,  warm  Southern  beauty  looked  the 
ideal  Juliet.— New  York  Herald. 

NADAGE  DOREE'S  PLAY,  "  THE  TEMPTRESS," 

is  from  the  French  school.  Miss  Doree  is  a  most  accomplished  emotional  young 
actress,  speaks  her  lines  in  a  most  natural  manner  and  her  voice  is  wonderfully 
tender  and  of  an  exquisite  quality.  Her  Oriental  beauty  and  great  personal 
magnetism  make  her  impersonation  of  "The  Temptress"  most  bewitching.— 
New  York  Herald. 

"THE  TEMPTRESS" 

is  a  very  clever  and  scintillating  comedy,  full  of  brilliant  wit.  Miss  Nadage 
Doree's  ideal  and  passionate  face,  lithe  girlish  figure,  together  with  her  superb 
and  refined  acting,  full  of  chiaroscuro,  won  the  hearts  of  the  large  audience  at 
once.  She  is  very  magnetic  and  emotional,  possessing  extraordinary  dramatic 
skill.— Times. 

MISS  NADAGE  DOREE, 

the  beautiful  and  brilliant  young  emotional  actress,  by  the  freshness  and  natural- 
ness of  her  acting,  made  an  ideal  "Juliet.'1  She  portrayed  "  the  love  of  her 
who  was  all  love  "  with  a  warmth  and  tenderness,  a  strength  and  fidelity  that 
was  marvelous.— New  York  Sunday  News. 

"THE  TEMPTRESS" 

is  the  cleverest  comedy  that  has  been  produced  for  many  a  day.  It  is  a  marvel 
of  construction,  wit  and  workmanship.  It  combines  swift  humor  with  subtle 
sarcasm,  epigrammatic  in  dialogue,  absolutely  balanced  in  chiaroscuro,  simple 
in  story,  eloquent  in  sentiment,  honest  in  purpose,  healthful  in  influence  and 
iascinatingly  sustains  the  interest  to  the  very  end.  Every  moment  of  it  was 
enjoyed  keenly  by  the  large  audience  last  evening.  The  spirited  acting  and 
poetic  French  chic  of  Miss  Nadage  Doree  as  "The  Temptress "  was  superb,  and 
reminded  us  of  the  great  Rejane.  It  is  a  brilliant  play  brilliantly  played.  The 
gods  were  in  a  good  humor  the  day  Nadage  Doree  was  born;  beauty,  great 
talent,  health  and  intense  imagination  are  all  her  own— in  fact,  the  lively  imagi- 
nation of  this  gifted  young  artist  colors  all  she  attempts  and  is  forever  overflow- 
ing in  new  directions,  while  her  elevated  sentiments  and  strong  religious  feelings 
win  the  sincere  admiration  of  all  those  who  know  her — The  London  Times. 

MISS  NADAGE  DOREE, 

a  highlv  talented  and  beutiful  young  American,  impersonated  the  rSle  of  Naomi 
Tighe  (In  school),  which  was  created  by  Lady  Bancroft.  Miss  Doree  played  with 
a  girlish  vim.  dash  and  vivacity  which  delighted  a  very  large  audience.— London 
Telegraph. 


YB  32545 


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